﻿{
    "id": "160683",
    "author": "23",
    "cnmid": "1009157",
    "title": "'I'm Bit More Relaxed Now, It\u2019s Going To Be A Cool Tour', Says Smith On His Captaincy Return",
    "lang": "en",
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    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Sydney Morning Herald: Veteran batter Steve Smith said he is feeling \"bit more relaxed\" about the chance to lead Australia for two Tests in Galle in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins.\n",
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    "editor1": "Sydney Morning Herald: Veteran batter Steve Smith said he is feeling \"bit more relaxed\" about the chance to lead Australia for two Tests in Galle in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins.\n<p>Smith was named as Test captain for the two-match tour of Sri Lanka as Cummins will be missing the trip due to the impending birth of his second child and a newly revealed ankle injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\"Any chance I get to take over when Patty's (Cummins) not here is good fun. I try and still do things my way. It\u2019s been cool to have a couple of opportunities here and there,\" Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald ahead of his BBL match for the Sydney Sixers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a cool tour. I think I understand spin and the subcontinent really well in terms of angles and what needs to happen. Also, the tempo of play that needs to be played at certain times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\"I\u2019m probably a bit more relaxed now. I\u2019m pretty chilled and just laid-back. I\u2019ll just enjoy it,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Smith served a two-year leadership ban for his role in the Sandpapergate saga of 2018. The 35-year-old has skippered his country four times since the ban ended. He captained Australia against England in Adelaide (2021), against the West Indies in Perth (2022) before donning the captain's hat in a couple of Tests in India in 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Smith led Australia on their tour of Sri Lanka in 2016, which ended in a disastrous 3-0 series defeat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Speaking about the spin-friendly conditions of Sri Lanka, Smith said, \"They can be tough conditions,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey play pretty well there, particularly if the wickets are quite extreme. It\u2019s just guys developing plans as batters\u2026 different methods that allow them to score and survive. It\u2019s very different to playing spin here in Australia. Whatever that is, stick to it from ball one, trust it.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Smith is eyeing one of the biggest milestones of joining the 10,000 run club after he fell one short of becoming the 15th man to achieve the feat in Sydney Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Speaking about the spin-friendly conditions of Sri Lanka, Smith said, \"They can be tough conditions,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThey play pretty well there, particularly if the wickets are quite extreme. It\u2019s just guys developing plans as batters\u2026 different methods that allow them to score and survive. It\u2019s very different to playing spin here in Australia. Whatever that is, stick to it from ball one, trust it.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><b>Also Read: <\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/tagging\/highest-tax-paying-cricketers\">Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Article Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ians.in\/english-wire\/sports\/1\" rel=\"nofollow\">IANS<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n",
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    "alt_img": "'I'm bit more relaxed now, it\u2019s going to be a cool tour', says Smith on his captaincy return",
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    "seo_title": "'I'm Bit More Relaxed Now, It\u2019s Going To Be A Cool Tour', Says Smith On His Captaincy Return On Cricketnmore",
    "seo_desc": "'I'm Bit More Relaxed Now, It\u2019s Going To Be A Cool Tour', Says Smith On His Captaincy Return, Sydney Morning Herald: Veteran batter Steve Smith said he is feeling \"bit more relaxed\" about the chance to lead Australia.",
    "seo_keywords": "New Delhi, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Sri Lanka, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Sixers, West Indies, Sydney Test, Gavaskar Trophy",
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    "created": "2025-01-10 12:22:04",
    "updated": "2025-01-10 12:22:04",
    "img_from": "Image Source: IANS",
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    "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/im-bit-more-relaxed-now-its-going-to-be-a-cool-tour-says-smith-on-his-captaincy-return-160683"
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