Boxing day test

Boxing Day Test: Steve Smith showed sympathy toward Ben Stokes-led England as the team endured criticism following their early Ashes series defeat to Australia. England suffered losses in the first three Tests, and the hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead upon winning the recent Adelaide Test.

Smith will rejoin the Australian team for the Boxing Day Test and continue as stand-in captain in place of Pat Cummins after recovering from an inner-ear issue. With Australia already having secured the urn and now aiming for a clean sweep in the Ashes, Smith was asked if he felt any sympathy for the English team, which is under heavy scrutiny.

Smith, who was stripped of the Australian captaincy and received a year-long suspension following the Sandpaper-gate scandal in South Africa, is familiar with the pressures of being in the spotlight and expressed empathyfor England's current situation.