Australia’s talisman batsman Steven Smith was welcomed to the crease in an unexpected manner by the Kiwis fans. The New Zealand supporters who were present in the ground for the ongoing Boxing Day Test match gave a sour welcome to the right-hander. Smith was booed when he came out to bat after the fall of two Australian wickets.

We have seen that Smith was booed many times by the English crowd in the Ashes 2019. However, he was able to let his bat do all the talking as he ended up as the leading run-scorer of the series with 774 runs. Smith said that he has learned to just block all the external voices when he comes out to bat. Thus, the right-hander is in his own zone and his focus is always to deliver the goods for the team.

Smith is unperturbed.

In fact, Smith added that he didn’t even notice that he was booed when he was entering the field to take guard. Smith added that it doesn’t matter much to him even if the crowd is appreciating him.

“Is that what happened? I have no idea,” Smith said at the end of day’s play. “I don’t really listen when I walk out to bat. Cheering, booing, dunno (don’t know). I’ve learned to just block it all out, regardless, good or bad.”

Steven Smith was banned for a year after he was involved in Sandpaper Gate with his former deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. Subsequently, Smith was severely criticized for his actions and he had to take a lot of hammering from the crowd.

Furthermore, Smith was also booed in the World Cup matches. Smith did make a mistake and he has gone through his punishment for one year. Consequently, it is unfair from the crowd to boo him even after 20 months from the aforementioned incident.

Smith is unbeaten on 77 runs and he would like to convert the boos into standing ovation by scoring a big century.