Steve Smith backs out of form Glenn Maxwell

In spite of their rather mixed start in the ongoing Tri-Series, Steve Smith has stated that the mood in the Australian camp was upbeat. Smith also went on to back the out-of-form Glenn Maxwell to come good in the future matches as the Tri-Series now moves to Basseterre, St. Kitts. Maxwell was dismissed in the third ODI of the Tri-Series to a delivery that may have been pitching outside the line. However, Maxwell had to head back to the dressing room as the review had already been used.

“I know Glenn Maxwell’s form has been spoken about because he’s been a bit short of runs in one-day cricket, but he was unlucky against the Proteas,” Smith wrote in his column for cricket.com.au on Friday (June 10). “I used up our referral when I and Finchy (Aaron Finch) thought it might have hit me outside the line or was missing the stumps, but unfortunately, I was out and we lost the review.”

“I don’t think Maxi was overly happy about that when he copped his decision, but that’s cricket,” he added. “Maxi works hard and he just needs to be a bit more consistent with the bat. Getting out in the middle in those situations, he has to find a way to get started and knock the ball around a little bit to get into his innings. He obviously hasn’t done that too well lately, and neither have I, which is frustrating.”

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Smith added that the mood in the camp was fantastic while the presence of Justin Langer was paying off. “There’s a fantastic mood in the camp at the moment and the guys are pretty relaxed on tour,” he said. “It’s great to have Justin Langer with us for this tour. I worked with him before when I was a bit younger and he’s been really relaxed so far and he’s come in with some great game plans.”

“I’ve said before that from my point of view, I’d really like to see the development of the ball continue,” he said. “I don’t like that there has to be extra grass on the pitch in order for the ball to hold up. I don’t think that’s cricket as it should be. But if we keep improving that, it’s going to be a form of the game that will be played pretty consistently in the future. I think it’s great for the game and a great innovation.”