Ashes 2021-22: Steve Smith motivates Australia to continue being ruthless in the last two Tests

It is safe to say that England have been annihilated by Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 so far. Despite all the hype, the mother of all battles has turned out to be a rather one-sided affair. Although there are two more Tests to go, the hosts have already won the three Tests and thus, have already ensured that the urn isn’t going anywhere.

However, Australia’s Test vice-captain Steve Smith felt that the ruthlessness displayed by their team needs to continue. He urged his teammates to keep the ‘foot on the throat’ of England in the last two Tests as well. The Aussie legend felt the need to keep the pressure on the visitors.

While praising the current form of the Cummins-led side, he said that they want to keep getting better. Thus, the 32-year-old said that the team wants to continue the momentum.

We’re still a young side: Steve Smith

“I think the guys are in a really good place. We’ve played some really good cricket so far and you know, we’re still a young side building together as a group and we want to keep getting better as a team. So, you know, whilst we’ve got the foot on the throat, so to speak, we want to continue that momentum and have another good week out here in Sydney,” said Steve Smith, as quoted by India Today.

However, despite being one of the best batters in the world, the run-machine has been a tad inconsistent of late. While he did score a brilliant 93 in the second Ashes Test match in Adelaide, he couldn’t cross 16 in either of the other innings of the last three Tests. Thus, while addressing his form in the series so far, Smith felt that the conditions in the first three Tests have been bowling-friendly. Yet, he was hopeful of doing good in the fourth Ashes Test at the SCG.

“It’s been a little while since I’ve scored a hundred, but I got close in Adelaide. I think we’ve played on some bowler-friendly wickets the first three Tests. They haven’t been huge scoring games so it’s been tough to find the rhythm and get into a groove. But, hopefully, this week I can spend a lot of time out there and score a big one and help us continue to have success as a team,” he said.