Champions Trophy 2025: Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith fielded tough and quirky questions on the eve of their opener against England in Lahore. Babar was asked to offer a piece of advice to Babar Azam. The superstar batter also praised Pakistan for being a great host.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Australia is the most successful team in the ICC events. What is the mindset behind this and what is the mindset behind the success in the global events?
00:22I think the pressure of big tournaments brings the best out of us. I think the pressure of big tournaments gets the best out of us as a team.
00:44I think over the last 10 or so years we probably haven't performed as well as we would have liked in the Champions Trophy. We know that sometimes in the big tournaments, in World Cups for instance, it takes us a little while to get into our groove, which we've done in the last few, but we know in Champions Trophy it's a shorter format.
01:05You're only playing three round games so you have to be switched on from the first one. Our message to the group is essentially it's a quarterfinal to begin proceedings and hopefully that can bring the best out of our players.
01:19Strict retirements, injuries, missing the fastball in Dijkgraaf, 11th hour captaincy in the ICC Champions Trophy. We have pictures of Patrick Winston instead of you.
01:33As a captain, is there pressure on you or on the other side? You're feeling no pressure, having some new team, no goals, no targets. Do you feel pressure in all these hurdles? Are you pressured as captain right now because you don't have to lose anything and you just have to perform?
01:56I'm pretty relaxed. There's always pressure when you're playing in international events and big tournaments. It's clear we're obviously missing a few of our gun fast bowlers, but we're not worried about that. We're thinking about what we've got here and the opportunity that those guys have.
02:16There's some quality players in that room that are playing in almost their first big event, I suppose, which they're looking forward to and I'm looking forward to as well. I think it's going to be great to see them placed under pressure against the quality oppositions. It's going to be an exciting time for us. I'm looking forward to it.
02:36How do you see the England cricket team? Have you seen the conditions?
03:06We're starting our campaign against them tomorrow. Hopefully, it's a belter of a game. I actually haven't seen the surface yet. I wasn't here when we trained at this ground a few days back. I was a bit sick, so I actually haven't seen the surface. It was undercovers just now. To your one spin question, I'm unsure. I'll have a look when I get an opportunity and we'll go from there.
03:29Have you decided on your team yet?
03:34We haven't yet. We're pretty clear where we're heading, but we'll name it at the toss tomorrow. I need to have a look at the surface when we get an opportunity as well. We're pretty clear where we want to go, but we'll name it tomorrow.
03:49Does it feel different dressing room without Max and Josh?
04:00It's a little bit different. I've played for 10 years plus with those guys around, so it's a little bit different. As I alluded to before, I think it's a great opportunity for some of these younger guys to showcase their skills in a world event. I'm looking forward to it.
04:18They've been placed under pressure in many different scenarios, whether it be T20 cricket or different T20 franchise things around the world. They've played in high-pressure scenarios, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that stacks up in a world event against some quality players too.
04:38Welcome to Pakistan. The question is, you are in Tab 4, but our superstar Babar Azam is lacking running since the last 50 odd years. Can you share some words or advice for Babar Azam?
04:57He's a quality player. He's had a really good career so far. He's got all the time in the world with the way he plays. He's got a solid technique. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He hasn't scored as many runs as he would have liked in the last little bit. We're all guilty of that at stages throughout our careers. He's a wonderful player.
05:28Will the Champions Trophy and the World Cup format be quite similar? I was just wondering, does being a reigning World Cup champion impact the motivation for the Champions Trophy?
05:39I think it's irrelevant really. It's another event. As I alluded to before, you've got to be focused from that first game. I think in our last World Cup, we were a bit slow to get started. We were really under the pump. We brought our best cricket towards the back end of the tournament, which I think is what you need in World Cups.
06:00The Champions Trophy is a lot different. Obviously, the eight best sides at the moment are here. You can't be slow to get started. You've got to get right into your work from the outset. That's our message to the group. The guys are excited about getting started tomorrow night against England out here.
06:17Both teams have lost their respective series to India and Sri Lanka. Any specific plan for tomorrow so that you can start on a winning note?
06:48I think it's a fresh start. It's a new tournament. Two good teams going at it. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It should be a good game.
07:00England and Australia are both our favourite teams for Pakistani spectators. What strategy will you make tomorrow to charge and attract spectators towards you and your team?
07:11Just hopefully put in a good performance. I think we'll be nice and positive, nice and aggressive, both with bat and ball early on in the power play, and try and get on top from that point of view. I'm not sure. Just go out and play really nice, branded cricket. Hopefully, we can get some good support out here tomorrow.
07:36Hi Steve. I think there were a lot of questions about tomorrow's match. I want to ask you specifically, who do you think will be the most semi-finalist of this Champions Cup event? What is obvious to you, Sweden, in your point of view?
07:50I'm not going to answer that. I think we've got eight really good teams that I think can win on any given day. I think that's what makes this tournament really good. You've got to turn up on every day and play a really good game of cricket. I'm not answering that question, but the best four teams will be there at the end.
08:09Hi Steve. England have named Smith at number three. Will you be pressing three? You don't know your team perhaps, but will you be pressing three?
08:18Pretty good chance, I reckon, yeah.
08:22Hi Steve. You have played your last match in Kazanka City. In 2012, you have played the test match there. Now, you are coming back to a new Kazanka City, which is built newly. How has the experience been here in the new stadium? Have you trained here for the last two days?
08:45No, it looks really good. It's the first I've seen of it. As I said before, I didn't come to the training session the other day. I was a bit sick, but I'm here now and it looks great. The new change room is really good and the stands look beautiful. Hopefully, we have a nice crowd out here tomorrow, a good atmosphere and hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
09:04Hi Steve. We saw in the tri-legion series, fast bowler getting good bounce at the first inning of the match. Can fast bowler be more effective than spinners?
09:34I think the back end of the game could be challenging for the bowlers with the wet ball and skidding on. The day might spin a little bit more when it's a little bit drier. I think both have a part to play.
09:49Hi Steve. Anyone who has selected Mark Wood, Brian Carson, Joffer Archer, I think all three of them will probably be expected to make an unroll in this win. Does that have any bearing on you as a bowler?
10:17Not really. I've faced all those guys quite a bit. So have a lot of the guys in the change room. They're quality bowlers, they're a good attack. Now we're looking forward to coming up against them tomorrow.
10:33Hi Steve. You've been to Pakistan before and now you're a champion. Tell us about your experience in Pakistan, about culture, food and people.
10:45It's been wonderful so far. The hospitality's been great. People are lovely, the food's been great at our hotel. We haven't really had a chance to get out and do too much. It's pretty secure. We've played a little bit of golf which has been nice as well.
11:00It's a wonderful place to play. I've actually never played a white ball game in Pakistan before so I'm excited by that experience. It's been great so far and hopefully that continues.