Steve Smith ready for Boxing Day Test, says his back issue manageable

Steve Smith is confident a nagging back complaint won’t prevent him from building on his excellent MCG record in the Boxing Day Test against India.

The former captain was hampered by the injury in the build-up to the first Test in Adelaide, which Australia won by eight wickets, and failed to have his usual impact with the bat.

Smith made just one run from 29 balls before nicking Ravichandran Ashwin in the hosts’ first innings and finished unbeaten on one in the second dig.

Smith admitted he initially feared he would miss the series opener when he was forced to withdraw from a nets session two days prior.

But four days out from the Boxing Day showpiece, Smith declared the back issue was manageable.

“It’s still a bit stiff but it didn’t hamper me too much throughout the [first Test],” he said, adding he put his dismissal down to Ashwin’s good bowling.

“It’s just something I need to manage whenever it goes and I probably haven’t had an episode since 2014, I think it was, so hopefully they can continue to be six years apart if they come.

“If I’m moving around and laying down I’m good.

“If I sit around for too long it’s not great for it, but I’m not worried about it.

Smith has made a habit of destroying opponents at the MCG, with four centuries — three of them unbeaten — and three fifties in seven Test matches dating back to 2010.

His Test average of 113.50 in Melbourne is higher than at any other ground where he has played more than once.

By comparison, his next best average on home soil is 67.88 at the SCG.

“I like batting at the MCG and [on] those big occasions,” Smith said.

“I like to try and make the most of them and help the team out.

“There’s nothing like the thrill and you get the shivers down your spine when you walk out to bat on Boxing Day with the crowd yelling, and it’s like a dream come true in a way.

“As a kid I always wanted to play in a Boxing Day Test match.”

AAP