Steve Smith beaten for pace courtesy a sharp bouncer by a 16-year-old schoolboy

Former Australian captain and the world No.2 ranked Test batsman Steve Smith is an epitome of what one can achieve if he’s got that unrelenting desire and mental toughness to succeed. Smith staged a successful comeback to International cricket post his ball-tampering ban where his reputation was ripped to tatters.

The right-hander headlined the 2019 Ashes series where he racked up 774 runs at an average of 110 to help his side regain the urn on English soil for the first time since 2001. Steve is back in South Africa for the first time since the ball tampering scandal and is expected to face the heat of both the South African pacers as well as their supporters.

However, on Wednesday, Steve Smith faced heat from an unexpected source as he was beaten for pace courtesy a brutal bumper from a 16-year-old boy, hailing from King Edward High School in Johannesburg during a net session. The batsman cleared his front leg to slog the ball but had get out of its way as the bowler delivered a fierce bouncer. Though Smith tried to hoick the short ball, he missed out on it.

My “little” brother bowling to @stevesmith49 pic.twitter.com/SnMabdy8Yo

— TheJetsunDolma (@TaraDomOs) February 18, 2020

The noise doesn’t bother me: Steve Smith

Coming back to the Steve Smith’s return and the reaction he is expected to face from the South African crowd, the right-hander said it doesn’t bother him much. He also revealed that he completely switches off from the external noise whenever he goes out to bat and he is looking forward to smile, laugh, play along and have fun.

“They are hostile at the best of times here. It doesn’t bother me too much. Like Justin (Langer) said we had the dress rehearsal in England where there was a fair bit going on but I honestly don’t notice it, particularly when I am batting. I don’t really hear anything that’s going on and I block it all out.

Maybe a little bit when I am fielding. But then again it’s just words, it doesn’t affect me. I think I will be doing some outfielding so I’m looking forward to it. I will smile and laugh and play along and have fun.” Steve Smith said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

The first T20I of the three-match series will take place in Johannesburg- the same place where Australia lost the final Test of that ill-fated 2018 series post which Darren Lehmann- the then Head Coach- resigned and where Smith was frogmarched by a police escort, on his way out of the country.