DB News Exclusive: Kevin Pietersen Meets Steve Smith in the US on ‘The Switch’
Few modern batters have shaped Test cricket like Steve Smith. While his not-so-typical batting approach always stands out, there’s more to his story.
In a candid conversation with Kevin Pietersen on The Switch, Smith speaks about his obsession with batting, the influence of his father, his early days as a leg-spinner, working with Shane Warne, the Ashes, Test cricket’s future, franchise leagues and an unexpected Olympic dream.
‘The Switch’ is England legend Kevin Pietersen’s new YouTube channel, brought to you by Duelbits News.
Below is the actual conversation in their own words as the two legends met at the Central Park in New York.
Kevin Pietersen
You spend a lot of time in New York. How do you manage training while still playing for Australia?
Steve Smith
Yeah, I do. You know, I really enjoy it here. We’ve got a place in the city so we have vacations here quite a bit. You know, the park’s beautiful where we are right now. I run around the park quite regularly.
I don’t do much batting here, I come here often, and I’m working with the trainer. It’s a nice place to work out. It’s a great time of the year right now. Fall, temp’s (temperature) beautiful.
Kevin Pietersen
Do you enjoy the freedom of being in the US?
Steve Smith
Yeah, I mean, it’s pretty chill and there’s always something going on in the city. You can.. watch shows, bars, restaurants, sport. They’ve got it all. And then if you want to just relax and do whatever.
No, no, Australia’s home (on moving to the USA post retirement). I think here’s just a place we like to come and have vacation and cruise around and spend a bit of time. A bit of golf this time of the year. I’ll probably play a couple of times a week.
Go to a cafe somewhere, maybe have some breakfast. There’s heaps of good Aussie cafes here, which make good coffee, which is always good.
Kevin Pietersen
Was cricket always your first love?
Steve Smith
It was. I played tennis in the off season just because I loved it and loved the hand-eye coordinations, keeping them up and footwork and things like that. Cricket was always my thing.
Since I was about 4 years old, I picked up a cricket bat and just never wanted to put it down. These days I do, but yeah, for a while there, it was pretty tough to get it out of my hands.
Kevin Pietersen
How big a role did your father play in shaping your career?
Steve Smith
Dad mainly took me out to all the games. He loved it and I was really fortunate that he used to work from home. So every afternoon after school, we’d be down the nets and working on my game.
So yeah, I think he was a huge part of the reason I’ve got to sort of where I have in the game.
The one thing that I’ve always said I think was really beneficial was when I was 10 years old, he’d bowl from the crease line. When I got to 11, he’d bowl like a foot over the line. When I got to 12, he’d go two feet over the line to the point where he was almost probably, when I was like 15, halfway down the wicket bowling at me.
And it was always like, if you’re facing this in the nets, it’s gonna be quicker than anything you face in the game.
Kevin Pietersen
When did you realise you had to fully commit to batting?
Steve Smith
It was 2012 and I was not happy where my game’s at. I wanted to play for my country and wanted to be successful.
And I thought the best way to do that was to let go of my bowling, concentrate all my time on my batting and my fielding.
From there, I worked hard in the nets. I was able to hit as many balls as I wanted, which I love doing.
When I was younger, I hit more balls than I hit now, but I just hit and hit and hit. And sometimes I wasn’t even working on anything. I just like to feel the bat on the ball. I like to play a nice defensive shot and just feel it smack the middle of the bat. Honestly, I just enjoy batting.
Kevin Pietersen
Did Shane Warne influence you as a leg-spinner?
Steve Smith
A little bit when I first started, when I was still bowling. Before I played my first two tests as a spinner, I worked with him a couple of times down in Melbourne around the Boxing Day Test.
And he was, you know, incredible, obviously. His record speaks for itself. He was a freak. So yeah, a couple of really good sessions with him.
And I felt when I walked away from them (the sessions), I was a better bowler every time.
Kevin Pietersen
Your technique is very different. How do you see it?
Steve Smith
You’ve got to watch that ball as closely as possible. I mean, that’s the thing that’s coming down at you.
But I think the beauty of our game is that everyone plays differently. If everyone batted the same, it’d be boring.
So to have guys batting in different ways, I think it makes it really interesting.
I like moving around the crease and just trying to set still a stable base, but I like getting in positions. Depends how far my trigger movement is. It changes every second day.
Kevin Pietersen
Do you still see Test cricket as the ultimate format?
Steve Smith
Yeah, definitely. I think it’s the ultimate test, isn’t it?
Nothing better than getting in a battle with a bowler and you’ve got to get through a difficult spell or something like that.
The game’s where it goes to the last session on that fifth day when there’s a possibility of all the results. Nothing beats it. It’s so exciting and nothing beats it.
Kevin Pietersen
What drives you now, after achieving so much?
Steve Smith
I think my next big goal is actually to try and make the Olympic team. That’s sort of my goal now.
It’d be cool to represent your country at the Olympics. Especially spending so much time in the US (And next Olympics taking place in the US). I think that’s my next goal.
Kevin Pietersen
How do you want to be remembered?
Steve Smith
I’m super chilled, you know. I’m lucky. I’ve obviously had quite a long career for Australia. Brilliant career. Had a lot of fun along the way.
And when it comes to an end, then it comes to an end.
I’m sure I’ll still remain in the game in some aspect, whether it’s a bit of commentary maybe somewhere or some coaching consultancy at one of the leagues around the world.
Teach some young kids how to bat.
It’s been good fun so far, and yeah, we’ll see where it all ends up.
Steve Smith and Kevin Pietersen also did a fun activity where a cricket bat went up against a baseball bat.
You can watch the full video on The Switch YouTube channel – click here.