Boos Doesn't Bother Me, Says Steve Smith After Heroic Ton

Steve Smith made a heroic come back to Test cricket after spending one year in exile due to the ball-tampering scandals in South Africa. He battled the deadly England bowlers along with the hostile crowd that was on offer at Edgbaston to put on fine knock of 144 runs to take Australia to a respectable position on day one of the first Ashes Test.

Boos doesn’t bother me – Smith

The hosts were all over the Aussie batting having them at 122 for eight with Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes shedding fire at the Edgbaston wicket. But Steve Smith arguably played the best Test innings as he shared 88 and 74 run-stands with No. 10 Peter Siddle and No. 11 Nathan Lyon as he took Australia from 122 for 8 to 284. The former Australian skipper hanged on to the crease for most part the day to save his side from humiliation.

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However, the road was not at all easy for the returning cricketer that too in England. The Edgbaston crowd gave Steve Smith a hostile reception as soon as he walked out to bat with the departure of Cameron Bancroft. There were boos, chants and men with masks that had Smith’s crying face from the press conference he did upon returning from South Africa. But Smith kept his calm and composure to bring his 24th Test century and give Australia a slight edge.

Speaking on the wrathful reaction from the crowd, Steve Smith said that it doesn’t bother him at all. Instead, it was support from the dressing room that helped him going. Smith also added that it was a long wait to get another Test hundred and cheer in the balcony sent shivers down his spine.

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“It [crowd booing] doesn’t bother me to be perfectly honest, I know I’ve got the support of the guys in the room and for me, that’s all that really matters,” Smith said.

“They went berserk on the balcony when I got to a hundred and just looking up at them really sent shivers down my spine. It’s been a long time coming, getting another Test hundred, and it was a huge moment and I’m lost for words, I don’t really know what to say at the moment,” he added.

Steve Smith on the moment that sent 'shivers down his spine' on day one at Edgbaston #Ashes pic.twitter.com/E3kY4XRdzS

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 1, 2019