I am a bit of cricket tragic: Steve Smith

Being successful in all three formats, how are you able to be so consistent?
With my batting, it is just about being able to go up and down in different gears. In Test cricket, you obviously have got a lot more time. For me, it is just about being patient in batting, not try and do too much, not try and premeditate anything too much or anything like that. With my training, I try and bat the same way as I would out in the middle, that's leaving lots of balls and just being patient. With training for T20, I try to clear the fence a lot. I know that I have got the game to be able to just bat. But the game that I need to work on in T20 is my power game, hitting big balls. That is what I practice in T20. It is more that I change my training routine a little bit more than anything else, but basics remain pretty much the same.

Has life changed after the World Cup win?
I don't think so. It was an amazing feeling to be able to win a World Cup and at home in Australia. It was pretty amazing six-seven weeks we had throughout the tournament. It was a great learning experience and certainly a time in my life that I will never forget. I don't think much has changed, to be honest. I am still as hungry to perform at any level and any format of the game. Nothing has changed there.

Despite being limited-overs captain in the limited opportunities he has got and leading the side to wins, George Bailey is not a permanent fixture in the side. How is one to understand this?
I think that is just part and parcel of the game. Obviously, Michael (Clarke) was out of the game and was coming back in as soon as he was fit. Someone had make way. It is a god problem to have, someone like George sitting in the sidelines. All the batters throughout the World Cup were in good form and scoring runs. It is a good problem to have. Unfortunately, it is George who is sitting out. But it is a good problem to have someone of his calibre to be sitting out.

You are in IPL for six to eight weeks in the year. Do you keep in touch with the Indian players and their progress in the rest of the year?
I am a bit of a cricket tragic. I do follow a little bit. I saw that Karun Nair get 300 in the Ranji Trophy final and things like that which is great. After all, I have been with Rajasthan Royals for one year and still getting to know the guys. I certainly know a lot of the Indian players this year. I will be keeping in touch with them after this year (IPL edition).

Is it a matter of concern for Rajasthan Royals not to have one single home ground?
There is a little bit of a disadvantage from the other teams that are potentially playing all their (home) games in one place. It is not too big of a deal. It is what we have got to adapt to and get on with it. I don't think we can use it as an excuse. We need to get on with each game wherever it is.

Are you satisfied with your IPL performance so far?
I would have liked a few more runs at this stage of the tournament. That's the way it goes. We've performed well as a side and that is what matters. We are near the top of the table and hopefully we can finish off well by winning one of our last three and make it to the qualifiers. I don't feel anything is lacking at all. Am still doing my same processes, my routines are the same. Actually, feel I am hitting the ball well. Hopefully will get a few runs.

How do you build an innings in T20, like you do in Tests?
It obviously depends on different situations in the game, whether you are losing wickets or whether you are coming later, how the pitch is, conditions and things like that. It is about summing up the conditions and what is the best way to play. For me personally I know it is hard to come in and try and hit ball over the fence the first ball. I like to give myself an opportunity, face 10 balls before I try and play bigger shots and try to build my innings that way. A lot of it is based around the conditions and situations of the game to how you respond with the bat.

Can you talk about the variations the bowlers use these days?
There are a lot of different balls the bowlers bowl these days, try and restrict the batters from hitting boundaries. They try to get them out as well. The bats have become bigger over the years, the grounds seem like they are getting smaller. The bowlers have had to respond and try to do something to hinder the damage and they've pitches with all different sorts of balls over the last couple of years, slower bouncer, wide yorker and things like that. It is great for the game and that is the way to keep progressing.

Bowlers bowl wide yorkers intentionally, don't they?
Different bowlers have different plans to different batters. A lot of bowlers practice these kinds of things. It is nice to have a couple of different plans up your sleeve. Some batters might hit the wide yorker quite well. Some batters might be better against the slower ball or a bouncer or one at their heels, something like that. It is nice to have a few options up your armoury to be able to bowl differently to different batters.

With seven locals and four foreigners in the XI, how are roles assigned to the Indian players and how do you get them to execute?
We are obviously lucky at Rajasthan Royals that we have got some quality local Indian players as well as overseas players. We have had a lot of meetings where the coach and captain have said it is tough to pick the XI out of all the players because most people here at the moment are in form. I know one thing here at the Royals is they produce good young Indian players and we have been able to do pretty well over a long period of time. We have got Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, who has played really well this year. That is the big part about Royals.

How has Hooda impressed you?
A couple of times he played under pressure and has done really well. Your quality players are the ones who can perform well under pressure. He has done that a few times. He has been able to produce the goods at the right time. He hits the boundary at will, he is a powerful young guy. He has been as well as anyone I have seen and he is a good young talent.

How does one fit in T20 style into 50-over game? Is too much planning involved?
I don't think there is much planing. Each individual batsman has got the way he plays and circumstances dictate how they play at those times. T20 certainly is great for innovation. In 50-over cricket, it's double the time of 20 overs and a little bit more, and you have got a lot more time to get yourself in. With the four out of the circle at the moment, with the rules the way are, you always have gaps somewhere in the field and you don't need to try too much. Generally playing on pretty good wickets, you don't do pretty too much. I found the way I play best is by batting normally, try to put away the loose deliveries and not think too much.

Why hasn't Australia's success in 50-overs not been translated into T20 wins?
I am not so sure. We have not played as well as we would have liked in T20 particularly over the last two years. Hopefully, we can improve and start working our way up those rankings a little bit.

From leg-spinner to a top-order batsman, you have come a long way...
Personally, I have always seen as a batsman who bowled a bit. I was just lucky to come through at a stage and play my first two Test matches as a spinner. I always saw myself as a batsman. Obviously, I did not start my Test career too well. With the bat, I was probably not quite ready to play at that stage. I was happy to go back to first-class system and learn my game a bit more, honing my skills, particularly my defence and patience. I've always told myself that if I got back to playing for Australia, I will make it count. And I think I have done it so far since I have been back in the side.

How different is coach Darren Lehmann from Mickey Arthur? Being an Australian, did it help Lehmann understand the players' mindset?
I have never really spent too much time playing under Mickey. With Darren, he is terrific for the Australian set up. He has been there, done that. His knowledge and experience in the game is outstanding. The way he gets the guys together, the brand of cricket we have been playing has been exciting. We have got a really relaxed environment where we still work hard. It is a great environment to be around to be successful.

How much do have you personally benefitted from Rahul Dravid's expertise? Do you discuss with them when on international duty?
It has been great to have him involved here at the Royals. His knowledge and experience of the game is second to none. To have a guy like that around, to be able to learn off him for six-seven weeks of the year is fantastic. It is also very beneficial for the Indian players. He is a guy they have looked up to for a long time and to have him here as a mentor for the young Indian players, to be able to learn off him is a great thing. I have not really had too many conversations with him, to be honest. I try do most of the batting myself, work things out myself. I am pretty strong in believing that you are your best coach and you are the one out there that's got to do it. I try and figure out myself.

How similar or different are you from Clarke's captaincy?
I am not sure. Obviously, I have not been in it as a full-time job. It is always sort of being a fill-in for Michael (Clarke) or George (Bailey) or Shane (Watson) here at the Royals I have never actually had the full responsibility to take the team to where I want to take them. Guess we will see what happens in the future.

When you get out, do you analyse your game immediately or give it some time?
It varies from game to game, how I felt out there (in the middle) and different things like that. I certainly do like reflecting and debriefing my batting each time, see what worked, how I played certain bowlers, what didn't work, how they try and get you out, things like that. For me, that is the most important thing. From the batter's point of view, I like to think how they get me out and try to combat from there.

Your thoughts on Thursday's game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
It is another important game for us. We are probably one win away from being able to qualify for the finals. It is a big game for us. We have got Chennai and Kolkata to play as well, two other quality teams. Hopefully we can play well on Thursday at our second home at the CCI. Hopefully, another good wicket and be able to qualify for the finals after Thursday's game.

How do you look back to the Tests you have played in India?
I have had a little taste of playing Test cricket in India. I got 92 and 46 in two Tests (in 2013) I played here. It certainly is a place great for Test cricket, it is a big challenge coming and playing against India in these conditions. I would love to come back, I guess it would be in 2017 when we come back next.

You may even be leading that side...
(Laughs) It is Michael's team at the moment and I am just enjoying playing and hopefully contributing to more Australia wins. Am not thinking too far about the future, to be honest.

How are you looking forward to this year's Ashes in England?
Am really looking forward to the Ashes over in England. It is going to be a tough battle. They are very good in their own conditions. Hopefully we can continue with the same success that we have had in Australia over the past 18 months. The way we play the brand of cricket we play, which is really good and if we continue to do that, hopefully we will continue to have a lot of success.

Do you think Jonathan Trott's retirement from Test cricket will impact England's batting in this year's Ashes?
Am sure they (England) still have plenty of different batters in their side. They are a very dangerous side, particularly at home. We are going to be at our best to be able to triumph over there.