Steve Smith: “I was really tired at the back end of those one-dayers”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia captain Steve Smith has admitted that he had no idea how mentally fatigued he really was until being given some time off recently.

Smith was rested for the ongoing T20 tri-series, which also includes England and New Zealand, following the Ashes, which Australia won 4-0, and a five-match ODI series against England, which Smith’s side lost 4-1.

While the 28-year-old conceded that he “hates resting”, he pointed out that his current break was much-needed, especially as Australia will be travelling to South Africa this week for a four-Test series, which begins on March 1 in Durban.

“It’s hard to admit it when you’re playing because you don’t want to tell yourself these kinds of things, but I was really tired at the back end of those one-dayers,” Smith, who won the Allan Border Medal and was named Test Cricket of the Year on Monday, was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “The way I was batting and where my mind was at a couple of weeks earlier, it was in a completely different place and a place that I didn’t entirely enjoy to be perfectly honest.

“But these last couple of weeks have been really good, just being able to refresh. I actually want to pick up a bat now – I’m going to have a hit tomorrow night and I’m actually excited about getting back into it.”