On Tuesday, Steve Smith said he can’t wait to play a Test match on Pakistani territory, and that his long-held goal would be realised when the tourists play a five-day game here for the first time in 24 years.
Players have left their team hotel for the first time to train at Rawalpindi Stadium. There, Australia will play its first Test in Pakistan since 1998.
On Tuesday, Smith was set to face fast bowling for the first time since suffering a concussion while fielding in a T20 match against Sri Lanka at the SCG in February.
The last box the run-machine had to check before being authorised to play his debut Test in Pakistan was to face the quick guys. Pakistan, too, has some good pace in their bowling attack.
During an interview, Smith was questioned about the concussion he suffered when fielding against Sri Lanka last month in Sydney, and he insisted he was OK and in high spirits.
“The head has progressed really well the last few days. I am feeling in a good space, I have done a lot of stuff where I have got my heart rate up to a good rate and brought it back down, that’s part of the protocols of getting back to playing.
I had a couple of good hits in Melbourne before we came away but today is just about ticking off facing fast bowling and once that’s done everything will be fine.
It’s the first time a lot of us have been here, we are really excited. I’m just excited to be here in Pakistan and bringing Test cricket back here,” Smith stated.
He also stated that they were confident in the security precautions put in place for them in Pakistan. The Australian team felt “incredibly safe” on their first trip to Pakistan in over 24 years.
The Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia later stated that they had examined the threat and found that it originated in India.
Smith stated that Pakistan has a strong and competitive Test team. Also, the fans here are enthusiastic about the game, and that the next series should offer some competitive cricket.