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[Watch] ‘Go For The Kill’ - When Steve Smith Inspired Cummins And Lyon At MCG vs PAK

image-lqtarv1uSteve Smith scored 26 and 50 in the Boxing Day 2023 Test (x.com)

Australia preserved their 28-year-old unbeaten home record against Pakistan by handing them a 79-run defeat at the MCG in late December 2023. Pat Cummins and co., defending 317 on Day 4 in the second Test of their three-match series, enveloped the visiting Pakistanis for just 237 at the brink of stumps.

Remarkably, the visitors held a firm grip at one stage of their ‘Boxing Day’ tussle, considering they had reached 134-1 on Day 2 after folding up hosts Australia for just 318 in their first innings. However, during the finishing stages of the day, an animated Steve Smith was heard charging up his teammates with few words of encouragement, which eventually triggered a middle-order batting collapse for Pakistan.

Steve Smith inspired Australia’s fightback at MCG

Australian legend Steve Smith managed to score just 26 on the opening day of the second Test match against Pakistan on December 26. After they were folded up for 318 by second afternoon, Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood at number three produced confident half-centuries to lead the visitor’s run-scoring charge late on Day 2.

When the ‘Men in Green’ breached the 100-run mark at the loss of just one wicket, Steve Smith was heard encouraging his teammates to fight their way back into the contest. At one stage, he said:

                                                 “Go for the kill for 40 minutes.”

As it turned out, Smith’s skipper Pat Cummins dismissed Shafique to break his brewing partnership with Masood. A while later, Cummins also dismantled Babar Azam, while Nathan Lyon trapped visiting captain against the run of play as Pakistan slumped from 124-1 to 147-4 in the space of 30 minutes.

Watch: Steve Smith signals Australia’s fightback

Pakistan eventually concluded Day 2 at 194-6 to concede their early advantage over to the Australians.

Australia gained a 54-run first innings lead, and extended the same till 316 by fourth morning before folding up the visitors for just 237 within the final two sessions of play. The outcome also ensured Australia went 2-0 up to seal their three-match series with a game to spare.