Steve Smith shares a laugh with a very special visitor to Lord’s ahead of second Ashes Test – as England prepare for him and Labuschagne to make up for failures at Edgbaston
- Steve Smith caught up with his father at Lord’s
- Veteran is eyeing off a big score in second Test
- Smith, 34, averages 54.42 at the famous ground
- Play begins at 8pm (AEST) on Wednesday night
Star Australian batsman Steve Smith had a special visitor at Lord’s as he prepared for the second Ashes Test – his dad Peter.
The father and son were seen laughing together at the home of cricket on Tuesday as Smith deals with the pressure of knowing his wicket will be highly prized by England.
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It comes as the hosts are on high alert for a Marnus Labuschagne and Smith resurgence at Lord’s, with the team not convinced paceman Stuart Broad has their measure.
Labuschagne and Smith’s failures at Edgbaston marked the first time both had been dismissed for less than 20 twice in the same match.
Star Australian batsman Steve Smith had a special visitor at Lord’s as he prepared for the second Ashes Test – his father Peter
The father and son were seen laughing together, with Smith the key wicket England will crave as they look to level the Ashes series
The low scores prompted both to drop in the ICC’s official rankings with Labuschagne losing top spot to Joe Root and being demoted to third, while Smith is now at his lowest ranking since 2014 in sixth.
There have also been suggestions Broad has got inside Labuschagne’s head, after twice having him caught behind with crafty outswingers in the series opener.
Labuschagne made a point to downplay those suggestions this week, while also altering his technique to rid himself of the shuffle across the crease he used at Edgbaston.
It comes after Broad publicly trumpeted his new outswinger in the lead-up to the series, making no secret of the fact he developed it with Smith and Labuschagne in mind.
But for all Broad’s success and the vocal nature of England in the past week, captain Ben Stokes is not ready to declare his strike-weapon seamer has landed a psychological blow.
‘Cricket’s a fickle game sometimes. He was the No.1 batter in the world, then Broady nicks him off twice,’ Stokes said.
‘Players like that don’t miss out too often.
‘Broady produced two unbelievable deliveries and it’s always great to see the back of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith early, but quality players always find a way to bounce back.
Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed twice by Stuart Broad at Edgbaston – and the batsman will also be looking to trouble the scorers at Lord’s
‘We won’t be reading too much into it but it’s nice knowing there might be something there for Marnus.’
Australia are also banking on the pair returning to their normal run-scoring feats.
The duo have batted on every day available to them in the lead up to Wednesday’s Test, even returning to the nets on Saturday alongside reserve members of the squad.
Smith made his debut at Lord’s in 2010 and has averaged 54.42 at the famous ground, while it was also the scene of Labuschagne’s return to the XI as a concussion substitute in 2019.
‘History would suggest that Marnus and Smithy rarely miss out,’ captain Pat Cummins said.
‘I am expecting a big week from them. Same from the other guys who maybe didn’t have their best week.
‘I don’t think we played a complete game last week by a long shot.
‘That’s one of the most pleasing things is we weren’t at our best, but still managed to get over the line.’