Steve Smith managed three runs across two innings during his first Sheffield Shield match in nearly five years, denying the Test star precious time at the crease ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
After falling victim to Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill for 3 in the first innings of the MCG clash, Smith was trapped LBW by national teammate Scott Boland for a fourth-ball duck on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old was given out after shouldering arms an in-ducker from Boland that skidded into his front pad; he made not attempt to hide his frustration, shaking his head the entire way back to the sheds.
Despite speculation whether Smith was a tad unlucky, he received no sympathy from MCG maestro Boland.
“They can talk about it all they want,” Boland said.
“I thought it was out. It only has to hit the stumps when you don’t use your bat like that.”
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Smith, expected to return to his preferred position at No. 4 in the Test side this summer, is unlikely to play another red-ball match before next month’s series opener against India at Perth Stadium.
Having been named in Australia’s ODI squad to face Pakistan, Smith won’t be available for New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield fixture against Queensland at Cricket Central. It would be possible for the right-hander to play the Blues’ following red-ball match against South Australia in Adelaide, but he is more likely to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with centre-wicket practice at the WACA.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket now and feel good,” Smith told reporters on Monday.
“I’ll see how the second innings goes and talk to the powers that be and see what they think is best, but I think they’ll trust my preparation also.
“I’ve played for a long time and know what I need now. There’s obviously going to be some good centre wickets with our boys bowling in Perth, in similar conditions to what you’re going to get at Optus Stadium. (It’s) probably going to be enough.”
Having managed one scoring shot at the MCG this week, NSW teammate Mitchell Starc joked that Smith would make amends for his Sheffield Shield flop with lengthy stints in the nets.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a few shoulders feel the wrath of that,” Starc said on Tuesday.
Regardless, Smith will enter the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the midst of an uncharacteristic form slump, with his most recent first-class scores being 0, 3, 9, 11, 0 and 31.
The Australian vice-captain hasn’t reached triple figures in any format since last year’s Lord’s Ashes Test, averaging 33.64 in Tests since the start of July 2023.
Later on Tuesday, NSW batting prodigy Sam Konstas threw away a golden chance to press his case for Test selection, dismissed for 43 after charging down the wicket at Victorian spinner Murphy and top-edging a slog towards point.
Another triple-figure score from the teenager would have heaped pressure on fellow Test candidates Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris.
“He applied himself really well in the second innings, apart from the shot he got out on,” Starc said of Konstas.
“For a young kid to absorb the pressure he’s been doing, (he was) obviously fantastic last week, (and) maybe got the raw end of it in the first innings, but I think he did some good, patient batting in the second innings before that last shot.”
The Blues were 6-185 at stumps on day three, chasing 383 for an unlikely victory.
