Cricket Australia (CA) is reportedly considering trialling injury substitutes in the Sheffield Shield this summer. This potential innovation could change domestic first-class cricket and pave the way for broader adoption in Tests, if the results witnessed are successful.
According to a report in WA Today, Daniel Brettig wrote CA are willing to see how the rule plays out even as opinion is divided around the world. The likes of Michael Vaughan have been calling for injury substitutes especially after injuries to Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes in the recently-concluded England-India Test series. Others, including Ben Stokes, are against the move, with the England captain labelling the move “absolutely ridiculous”.
Cricket Australia mulling possibility of injury substitutes in the Sheffield Shield this summer
Traditionally, substitutes in First Class and Test cricket could only field. Now, teams may be allowed to bring on a “like-for-like” replacement capable of full participation, provided an existing player suffers a serious injury or illness mid-match.
“We devised a model for consideration by our playing conditions advisory committee that allowed for injury substitutes in first class cricket,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson told WA Today.
“Our initial advice was that this model would not comply with the parameters set for such trials by the ICC. More recent advice suggests this could now be possible, and it is something we are investigating ahead of the coming season.”
While details are yet to be ironed out, the proposed trial represents a significant shift in thinking, breaking a long-established norm of cricketers enduring until the end even if hurt. Proponents argue it will better protect players and uphold the competitive balance of the game.
The trial, if green-lit, will elevate player safety in the Sheffield Shield, which feeds into higher-profile competitions. A successful rollout at state level could fast-track the rule into Test cricket as early as next year, offering a stronger safety net at the pinnacle of the sport.
Australia’s adoption of an injury replacement policy highlights a progressive evolution in cricket’s approach to player welfare. If implemented, it promises to safeguard individual athletes and also to preserve team integrity in high-stakes encounters, setting a new precedent for the sport.
The 2025/26 Sheffield Shield season begins on October 4. The first few rounds will not only be crucial in determining who makes Australia’s Ashes XI, but eyes could be locked in to see how the injury substitutes rule will play out.
Cricket Australia (CA) are considering privatising the Big Bash League (BBL). Currently, CA owns all eight teams but are mulling the possibility of private investors to provide a financial boost to the competition.
CA also faces some external pressure to make the move. Boston Consulting Group urged CA to sell off even minority stakes in each team as the ECB have done with The Hundred, which provided a huge cash injection.
Also, the BBL faces stiff competition from South Africa’s SA20 and UAE’s ILT20 leagues, both of which begin during the BBL season. As a result, several players leave the competition to join different teams overseas.
However, while privatisation seems a viable way to make the competition more attractive to overseas stars, it is not a guarantee that the move will be as successful in Australia as it was for a brand new tournament in South Africa, for example.
CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed CA are exploring this option, but nothing is in concrete at this stage.
“That [privatising the BBL] will upset some people, and it will set the hares racing and potentially of people debating the merits,” Greenberg said earlier this month, as quoted byABC News.
“It would be completely naive of us sitting here in Australia to not explore it. I’m not suggesting that we’re going to do it yet.
“I’m not suggesting there’s been a decision made, and ultimately it won’t just be my decision or Cricket Australia’s decision. It will be the whole of leadership of Australian cricket, and it has to be beneficial for everyone.”
Should CA look at privatising the BBL? 3 risks to consider
There are crucial factors for CA to consider before making this move. Here are three risks.
What will it mean for Australia’s Test summer?
Cricket is quite seasonal, with fever reaching its peak during the summer months after the major football codes, namely NRL and AFL, have completed their respective seasons.
Tests remain very popular in Australia. According to CricBlog’s future of Test cricket survey, 95.6% of Australia fans who participated said Test cricket is their favourite format.
The top stars, including Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, prioritise Tests, often during the BBL season By privatising the BBL, CA need to consider the investors’ wishes. It is not out of line to assume they would want all top stars available for the BBL to make the most of their investment.
So, if investors want the top stars available, what will CA do and how would it affect the season? The next point will paint the picture.
BBL works well in a specific window
The BBL works very well during mid-late December and January. If investors want the top stars to be available, this means either changing the BBL’s window or shifting Test cricket around to accommodate. The latter is a no-go zone given the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests a crucial part of Australia’s sporting identity.
So, one option would be to start the BBL once Australia’s Test season ends in January. However, the risk is the school year begins soon after in February, potentially meaning lower crowds and fan engagement as the BBL has been shifted away from the peak school holiday period.
Finishing the season in February has not worked previously in the BBL.
How will Australia fans respond to new team names and identities?
With privatisation comes potential name changes. Teams in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have new names, while the SA20 has team names in line with those in the IPL. Now, teams in the Hundred will be re-branded, with an example being the Oval Invincibles changing to MI London.
The key difference is neither the SA20 or Hundred have been around as long as the BBL. Fans have become accustomed to the eight teams in the league and all have built an identity over a number of years. The likes of Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars are household names.
A key factor CA must consider is how fans would respond to changes like MI Perth or Sydney Royals. The identity of the BBL would be flipped upside down. Perhaps CA could look at an agreement which keeps all team names the same, but would that invite the same level of investment? Time will tell.
The 15th season of the BBL kicks off on 14th December between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers, two of the competition’s most successful teams. The final will take place on January 25, 2026.
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is poised to make a return to bowling ahead of the upcoming Ashes, with preparations set to begin in the Sheffield Shield. Green, who has concentrated purely on batting since undergoing back surgery in 2024, confirmed that the domestic red-ball competition will be his launchpad back into a full-fledged all-round role.
“In the past, it’s worked really well when I’ve focused on Shield cricket,” Green said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“That potentially might be the way to go, especially with (me) working my way back to bowling, to potentially get a few more overs over a few more days.
Cameron Green a chance to bowl in the huge 2025/26 season
Green’s cautious optimism comes after a decent-yet-unspectacular batting comeback in the World Test Championship final and West Indies tour. After a tough start, Green finished with scores of 52, 46, and 42 on very difficult surfaces in Grenada and Jamaica. Still, he remains uncertain about his batting position against England, saying that while he’s proud of his stint at number three, the top-order configuration is “wait and see.”
Key to managing his return will be a run of Shield matches for Western Australia scheduled for October 4, October 15, and October 28, designed to build his bowling load with gradual consistency ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth on November 21. The focus will be on ensuring Green has the right balance of bowling practice without overexertion, given his past back issues.
Green’s return with both bat and ball would be a huge boost for Australia’s Ashes defense. Historically, he has fared well against England, claiming 18 wickets in eight Tests at an average significantly better than his career mark, highlighting the game-changing potential he brings. His tall frame, seam movement, and ability to extract bounce make him a unique weapon in Australian conditions, especially against an England side that thrives on attacking fast bowlers.
Selectors are expected to monitor his progress closely, assessing how much bowling he can take on before the Ashes begin. For now, Green’s dual-threat ability, if fully restored, could provide the edge Australia needs to retain the urn on home soil. His performances in the Sheffield Shield will not only answer questions about his fitness but also determine how Australia shapes its batting order for one of cricket’s most fiercely contested rivalries.
In news with huge ramifications on India’s gaming industry, Dream11 is set to shut its real-money gaming (RMG) business. Specifically, this involves players investing money to join paid contests to play fantasy sports, including cricket and football.
The decision comes off the back of the Indian Government passing the Online Gaming Bill 2025 on Thursday, August 21. This bill bans money-based online games flagging high risk of financial harm as these activities can be quite addictive. Also, anyone found to offer money games could face a fine of up to 1 crore (approx US$115,000) and a jail sentence of up to three years.
“It is the duty of the government and the parliament to take strict action against social evils, which keep erupting time and again,” federal IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in parliament on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters.
Dream11 to end its real-money gaming businessin wake of 2025 Online Gaming Bill
According to a report by Entrackr, sources confirmed Dream11 will wind down its RMG operations, which contributes more than 67% of the company’s annual earnings.
“The decision was communicated during an internal town hall on Wednesday,” said one source. “RMG contributes more than two-third of the company’s annual revenue.”
The fallout is expected to be quite significant as platforms like Dream11 employ thousands of people. Dream11 was valued as highly as $8 billion in late November 2021, and is a common sponsor in leagues around the world including the Indian Premier League (IPL), European Cricket League, and New Zealand’s Super Smash.
“The shutdown will also trigger severe cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs, as the RMG business employed the majority of the firm’s workforce,” said a second source, as quoted by Entrackr.
On August 22, the final three cricket matches available to play on the fantasy platform are a top-end T20 match between Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, another top-end T20 match between NT Strike and Perth Scorchers, and the second ODI between Australia and South Africa.
Where to now for Dream11?
Dream11 will focus on its non-real-money ventures such as Fancode, plus investments including Willow TV and Cricbuzz. Also, the platform is likely to look at opportunities in overseas markets.
“The firm is also likely to explore new game formats for overseas markets, similar to the strategy adopted by Mobile Premier League (MPL),” said the second source.
South Africa offspinner Prenelan Subrayen has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the Proteas’ 98-run victory over Australia in Cairns.
Subrayen took 1/46 in his debut ODI, dismissing Travis Head after the hosts made a strong start. He then combined with Keshav Maharaj (5/33) to put the breaks on Australia’s chase of 297.
Prenelan Subrayan to undergo testing after reported for suspect bowling action
Subrayan has had a history of issues relating to his bowling action. Here is a summary.
December 2012: Action was twice deemed illegal by independent tests. It was a tricky situation as Subrayan had suffered a shoulder dislocation. Cricket South Africa (CSA) placed him under rehabilitation, according to ESPNcricinfo.
September 2014: Action was reported during Champions League T20 tournament in India.
November 2015: Action was reported during domestic T20 match.
March 2016: Subrayan was cleared to resume bowling after failing a re-assessment in January 2016.
The offspinner must undergo an independent assessment of his action within 14 days. This will take place at an ICC-accredited testing facility. To pass, Subrayan must prove his elbow extension does not exceed 15 degrees while delivering the ball.
South Africa have left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy whom they can also turn to for the final two ODIs against Australia. These matches will be played at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
Australian rookie opener Sam Konstas is placing his trust in his inner circle as he braces up for a gruelling domestic season that could make or break his chances of making the squad for the 2025 Ashes.
Konstas endured a difficult tour of the West Indies. The 19-year-old mustered just 50 runs across six innings, which highlighted a few technical deficiencies in his game. However, the selectors are keen and confident on his long-term potential, which has helped Konstas put his disappointment aside and rather focus on the opportunities ahead.
Next up, Australia A will be touring India and Konstas is part of that squad. He will then return home for the Sheffield Shield matches in October. The batter understands the importance of the stretch, saying, “It’s massive, it’s going to be a big four games [of Sheffield Shield] and I expect that,” as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Sam Konstas with positive mindset ahead of buildup to Ashes
Konstas remains process-driven, determined not to let outside noise dictate his approach. He is also trusting a group of seasoned mentors to help him prepare better for the challenges resting ahead of him.
“But for me, [it’s about] just being in the present moment, don’t get too fixated about the outcome and just be very process-driven in those games. Not getting too fazed about what other people say, and obviously have that inner circle that I trust,” Konstas said.
“Adopting the right mindset, training hard, not leaving any regrets. For me, that’s the big thing, just the way I prepare, and especially with the people that I trust, having honest conversations with them when necessary and leaving it to that.”
The likes of Steve Smith and David Warner serve as a source of guidance to the openers, whereas New South Wales skipper Jack Edwards has lauded Konstas’ professionalism. “He doesn’t hold onto setbacks for too long… he’s been hitting a mountain of balls. Such a young man, but definitely going to have a long career for Australia,” Edwards noted.
Konstas turns 20 in October but has already shown maturity beyond his years. He admits that failures are inevitable in sport, but insists they serve as lessons.
“As an athlete, you’re going to go through failures and successes… build from those failures and become a better person and cricketer,” he said.
The teenager has played 20 First Class games, aggregating 1062 runs at an average and strike rate of 30.34 and 51.77 respectively. He has struck six half-centuries, two tons, and was infamously involved in heated exchanges with Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli when the Indian team toured and lost in Down Under in 2024-25.
Great Barrier Reef Arena (also known as Harrup Park) in Mackay will host the final two ODIs of South Africa’s tour of Australia. The second ODI, to be played on Friday 22nd August, is the first men’s ODI on this ground since the India-Sri Lanka World Cup match way back in 1992. That match was unfortunately washed out after two balls.
Mackay has played host to women’s T20Is and ODIs, along with ‘A’ matches. Here is a look at some of the key stats and pitch trends on this ground in recent years.
Great Barrier Reef Arena Mackay ground information
Mackay is located in Queensland, 975km north of Brisbane and 733km south of Cairns, where the first ODI was played. The climate is fantastic at this time of year, with a temperature of 25 degrees and minimal rain forecast for the next week.
Australia and India played three women’s ODIs at Great Barrier Reef Arena in 2021, all won by the chasing team. The average score batting first was 254, with the highest 275/5 by Australia. Pace bowlers enjoyed more success, taking 25 wickets at 34.40 (econ. 5.21), compared to just nine wickets for the spinners at 71.11 (econ. 5.09).
It was a similar story in last year’s Australia A vs India A four-day match soon before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There was help in the pitch for the seamers early in that game, with Brendan Doggett (6/15) and Mukesh Kumar (6/46) taking full advantage.
The surface then settled down into a good one for batting, with Sai Sudharsan (103) and Devdutt Padikkal (88) scoring well in the second innings. Australia A then chased down the 226-run target with Nathan McSweeney (88*) and Beau Webster (61*) sealing the victory.
Going by those trends, there is the possibility that Mackay is more seamer-friendly than Cairns, where Keshav Maharaj ran through the Australian lineup with 5/33 in the opening ODI. With the mostly clear conditions forecast, the captain who wins the toss could opt to chase given the possibility of dew in the evening. Also, it will be tempeting to have first use of a fresh pitch.
South Africa have won 16 of their past 20 ODIs against Australia. If the Proteas win either of the final two matches in Mackay, it will be their fifth-straight bilateral ODI series win over Australia.
The announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup has sparked widespread reactions from cricket fans, with Shubman Gill appointed vice-captain across formats and Suryakumar Yadav confirmed as captain of the T20I side.
Gill’s elevation comes after his successful stint as stand-in skipper during the recent Test series against England, where he impressed with both leadership and batting temperament. At just 26, Gill is now being seen as a long-term leadership option, and fans on social media have hailed his rise as a sign of generational change.
Unsurprising. 2000+ runs in last three IPL seasons at a strike rate of over 150 means that Shubman always deserved that spot. Sometimes we mistake a solid technique for lack of ingenuity in T20s. That’s a problem of perception. Glad Gill wasn’t a victim of that #AsiaCuphttps://t.co/TgMuKNAg8m
Fans react to India Asia Cup squad: Should Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer have been picked?
Reflecting on the new development, a few fans stood by Gill for being the perfect choice to take Indian cricket forward. Others, however, believe the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer should have been selected.
All those discussion on youtube videos, media articles, jio streams, social media mostly downplaying Shubman Gill’s achievements and potential will never be of any use
Jaiswal robbed. you can't have two different approach towards two cricketers in similar position treating one of them them unfairly. Either both Jaiswal and gill deserved to be in the Asia cup squad or neither. their skill set is not the issue
I like Shubman Gill. He’s one of the best talents around but you don’t always have to create all-format stars. Abhishek & Sanju were great at top but the selector says Sanju opened bcs Gill wasn’t available, meaning he might’ve to bench. Also, Jaiswal not making it is a shocker!
This is beyond numbers, the next few years will see Indian cricket backing Gill regardless of the runs he makes or how fast he makes them. Will be skipper across all three formats very soon.
2024 T20I World Cup – Backup Opener. 2025 T20I Asia Cup – Out of the 15 member squad.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is very unfortunate, with 15 T20I left after Asia Cup, I really hope he returns into the setup, he is that good a player, shouldn't miss the Mega Event. 🤞 pic.twitter.com/4Q9pi7M5OL
Yashasvi Jaiswal did nothing wrong..he just lost to the idea of an organization trying their best to push forward a new poster boy for Indian cricket for years to come. #AsiaCup
Still figuring out on what basis Harshit Rana got selected for the Asia Cup squad.
He has played only 1 match for India in the T20I format. Even in the recent IPL, he picked up 15 wickets in 13 matches with an economy rate of 10.18.#AsiaCup
Dropped from ODIs even after scoring a century in his last match and now looks like he will be benched again even after creating and breaking many records in T20Is
Whatever team is picked today, it will not be a concrete team for the T20 World Cup. Most of the players are auditioning. Asia Cup, barring the hype around Ind-Pak tension, is not a top quality product. Failures will have a greater impact than success!#AsiaCup2025
Surya, who previously led the side in bilateral series, now takes full charge of the shortest format in the post-Rohit and Kohli era. Many fans expressed excitement about his aggressive, instinctive approach to leadership.
Others, however, questioned his tactical consistency and fitness, arguing that younger options could have been considered. Still, with his experience in high-pressure IPL environments, selectors have backed Surya to steer the transition.
For many fans, the Asia Cup is the beginning of a fresh era one where the responsibility rests firmly on a younger core to deliver results while keeping India competitive on the global stage, especially with the T20 World Cup taking place at home and in Sri Lanka in 2026.
The Pakistan team management dropped seasoned stars Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan from their squad for the Asia Cup 2025, which is due to begin next month.
The axing of the two right-handed batters marks a significant switch under the watch of head coach Mike Hesson, with the think-tank looking beyond reputations to finalise their roster in the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that will be held next year.
Both these players have been sidelined from the first-team setup in the shortest format since the T20Is against South Africa in 2024. Instead, the focus has been rested on giving chances to the likes of Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, whose batting styles resonate more with the demands of T20 cricket.
Hesson indicated that Babar needs to uplift his game in certain areas, such as his scoring rate against spinners. The Kiwi has spearheaded the Pakistani team to T20I series victories against Bangladesh and West Indies in his brief tenure so far.
“At the moment, the players that we have, (they) have performed exceptionally well,” Hesson said regarding Farhan, Ayub and Zaman. “But certainly a player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and start to show that he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player for us not to consider.”
Fans react to experienced Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan left out of Pakistan Asia Cup squad
Here’s a brief look at how fans and experts reacted on X (formerly Twitter) to this latest development.
Babar, yes; Rizwan, no – Babar may be in the worst international form of his life as well as his own worst enemy, which I'd put down to lack of confidence – In need of a big score to regain form and confidence. The pressure and expectations built around him, I feel, are playing… https://t.co/6AfCijEEQ9
Look who had the guts to tell Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to improve their T20 game and dropped them from the Asia Cup squad. Professor Hesson strikes 💪 pic.twitter.com/cdNyTQ12IY
This match has ended the career of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf & Naseem Shah & they are yet to recovered from this match 🔥 https://t.co/u9jZpHIalP
Seen a lot of commentary on our #AsiaCup2025 squad & I think people still don't realise that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are TWO DIFFERENT PLAYERS. Can't believe they still get discussed together.
Kicking out Babar and Rizwan from team should have been done a long time ago, along with Shaheen. It wouldn't make much of a difference since the damage they've inflicted is long-term. Same goes for the damage inflicted by ramiz raja and naqvi
PCB learned from mistakes & dropped Babar & Rizwan from Asia Cup squad, but BCCI still trying to sneak Gill in by sidelining explosive t20i batsman like Jaiswal and Samson. Not just in the team they even want to make him vice captain. https://t.co/z4Or1WjiXh
both mid but in wc23 and ac23 rizwan performed better than babar in babar’s own best format, even in asia cup 2022 rizwan played match winning innings against india, babar has been worse than rizwan in every single tournament, i don’t get how guys still say rizwan ruined babar.
Babar has a career T20I average of 39.84 with a strike rate of approximately 129.22, including three centuries. Rizwan has a T20I average of stellar 47.42 with a strike rate of about 125.38. He holds the record for the most runs in T20Is in a calendar year, with 1326 runs in 2021. Together, they have formed one of the most successful opening partnerships in the format, but a recent inability to keep up with the demands of the shortest format led to their eventual sidelining from the squad.
Steve Smith has the goal of breaking into Australia’s high-performing T20I team. In an interview with CricBlog, Smith said he retired from one-day cricket to play in tournaments like The Hundred to put his name up for Australian T20 selection.
Smith also shed light on The Hundred and getting used to the format. Playing for Welsh Fire, Smith spoke about how the format presents interesting and unique challenges, before speaking on the Fire’s somewhat tricky start to their 2025 campaign.
Steve Smith interview: Talking Hundred, Australia’s T20I team and one of his best memories
The video and transcript of our interview with Steve Smith is below.
Q: Let’s go straight into The Hundred. I know it’s a competition you’ve always wanted to be a part of. It didn’t quite work out, I think, back in ’21. But clearly, it’s something you’ve always wanted to be involved in?
Steve Smith: Yeah, it’s been good to to get over here the last couple of weeks and get to know the guys. And, you know, obviously, we had a a good win the other night [against Manchester Originals]. We obviously didn’t start well two and 0 (no wins, two losses), but nice to get back on the horse the other day with a win. And, hopefully, we can carry that momentum into the the game out here tomorrow.
Q: It’s your first time playing in the competition, and we know it’s a it’s a slightly different format to T20s. We kind of got used to those sort of little nuances of five ball sets, the 10 balls from one end. Even the scoreboard sometimes kinda confuses me.
Steve Smith: First couple of games took a little bit of getting used to. You know, traditionally facing six balls in an over, going back to five was a little bit different. But, starting to get the hang of it now. So, it’s been good fun the first week here. I’ve enjoyed it and looking forward to the upcoming games as well.
Q: And just looking at the tournament as a whole and maybe kind of into the future, you know, lots of speculation about the fact that it might might well change for that next next year with the with the sort of new ownership that’s come in. Have you got a view on that? Would you like to sort of see it as it is or change?
Steve Smith: That’s above my pay grade. I’ve enjoyed playing in this format, though. It’s obviously something a little bit different to to T20, but it’s been great fun. You know, before coming over, a lot of people that have played this format before said it was it was a great tournament, great one to be involved in, and it’s been fun the first couple of weeks.
I think we we did some good things in the last game [against Manchester Originals], to to get the victory there. So, hopefully, we can take some confidence out of that and and keep moving forward. Things probably haven’t completely clicked particularly in the batting unit, I suppose. Guys are training hard, doing all the right things. So hopefully, we can put it together out here.
Q: Let’s talk about the batting unit and yourself also playing the batting with Jonny Bairstow. Clearly, you enjoy batting in partnership with him. How do you compliment each other?
Steve Smith: He’s been really good to start the tournament. I thought he he batted beautifully for his 80 odd the other night. You know, it’s been tricky up top at at Cardiff on that wicket. So, just to try and navigate through that as a partnership’s challenging. But, obviously, Jonny’s very experienced. He’s played a lot of cricket, and hopefully, he can keep having some success and and lighting it up top for us.
Q: I know you put on, I think, 62 in that first game in partnership with him. So so clearly, there’s there’s there’s good understanding there between you and I’m guessing, all the chat about run outs, that’s all sort of water under the bridge?
Steve Smith: Yeah, just business as usual. So, no, he’s he’s been really good. I’ve enjoyed batting with him so far, and, hopefully, we can, you know, keep keep this partnership together and and have some success with the with the team.
Q: So let’s zoom out a little bit. Obviously, you know, we got there’s always a big ICC competition around the corner, isn’t there? And there’s a World Cup coming up next year. And I know you’ve sort of said previously, you know, one of your ultimate ambitions is to kind of get get your name back in the frame there?
Steve Smith: That’s the goal. I’ve stopped playing one day cricket to give myself some more opportunities to play in tournaments like this one [The Hundred]. And, just got to try and keep scoring runs, and put my name up there as much as I can.
Q: Just kind of rewinding back to almost the start for you. I mean, just thinking about sort of earliest cricket memories, what would you say was was kind of one of your earliest?
Steve Smith: Not too sure. I’ve pretty fond memory here actually, getting my first ever Test hundred. Hitting a six down the ground off Johnathan Trott to bring that up. So, yeah, that was a pretty nice.
Q: I know you you obviously have very deep English connections through your home. And you played a bit of club cricket out there for Kent a little while ago.Was there ever a consideration that, you know, you might end up playing for the other team [England] as it were?
No, not really. I was always pretty set on playing for Australia. I enjoyed my stint over here and playing club cricket and, yeah. But, no, always ambitions to play for Australia.
