AUS vs PAK 2019: Steve Smith Talks About His Test Failure and Yasir Shah’s Seven-fingered Celebration

After having a great Ashes series earlier this year, Steve Smith had a poor show in the recently concluded first Test against Pakistan. A seven-digit send-off has motivated Smith for improved performance in the second cricket test against Pakistan. In the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane last Saturday, Smith faced only nine balls and was bowled by Yasir Shah for mere four runs.

Yasir Shah raised his thumb and four fingers one hand, and two fingers on the other, referring to the number of times he has dismissed Steve Smith out in test cricket which was “interesting” to the former Australia captain.

“It gave me a bit more motivation next game to not get out to him,” Smith said Tuesday at Adelaide Oval. “So I will probably be a little bit more disciplined against him.”

Australia won by an innings and five runs on Sunday with more than a day to spare in Brisbane. However, Steve Smith also self-abused himself as he failed to score big.

“I always punish myself when I get no runs, just like I reward myself when I score runs with a chocolate bar at the end of the night if I get a hundred,” he said. “So yeah, if I get no runs I always like to have a run or go to the gym or do something just to give myself a bit of a punishment.”

On the other hand, England speedster Stuart Broad has dismissed Steve Smith eight times in Tests — the only bowler to get him out more than Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah. But Broad took 24 tests to do so while Shah has done it in only six tests against Smith.

“I feel the times he (Shah) has got me out, I have been on a few runs,” Smith added. “I have been slogging in a couple of second innings ones where I was playing some funky shots and stuff so I’m not too worried.”