Australia batter Steve Smith was at his eccentric best on Day 3 of the ongoing Test against Pakistan. He brought the entire proceedings to a halt due to the tiniest of objects on the sightscreen, that affected his vision and concentration.
Right before the 71st over was set to be bowled, Smith asked for the object to be removed. The information was relayed to the groundsmen, who had to step up as the object was out of normal reach.
A groundsman was seen running towards the scene with a large handle brush, but another groundsman just opted to wing it and climbed the slope, amid large cheers from the ground. He retrieved the object, leaving the sightscreen free of any visual hurdles and allowing play to recommence on the field.
Watch the incident right here:
Smith has spoken about his rare form of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in the past as well, which leaves him fidgety and prone to distraction at times.
As a result, the batter needs as less distractions as possible to get into a desired zone of concentration to play Test cricket.
Steve Smith scored 38 runs off 86 deliveries in the first innings
The right-handed batter did not last long after the object was removed from the sightscreen. Steve Smith fell right into the cover trap set by Shan Masood and lost his wicket to Mir Hamza in the 74th over of the innings.
His 38-run knock off 86 deliveries included three fours as he stitched together an important partnership with Marnus Labuschagne for the third wicket. The overnight pair came out to bat after bad light and rain forced an early halt to the proceedings on Day 2 of the New Year's Test.
Labuschagne, who departed after just one over following Smith's wicket, was outdone by a Salman Ali Agha delivery that spun sharply after hitting the rough.
Does Steve Smith need a change in batting position in the upcoming Australian transition? Let us know what you think.
Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️