Steve Smith is bullish his six weeks in New York has him perfectly poised for the Ashes, also warning standing in as captain only lifts his batting to another level.
Smith returned to Sydney last week after not picking up a cricket bat since late August, what he believes is now his ideal preparation for the summer.
Often renowned for being a cricket nuffie who can be heard tapping his bat in hotel rooms, Smith has taken a less-is-more approach late in his career.
He believes it helps him stay in form for longer, as evidenced by centuries against India in Brisbane and Melbourne last summer.
“I certainly get drained mentally quicker than I’ve probably used to,” Smith said.
“Ten years ago I loved to come back and play every single game that I could. Now obviously my Test cricket has taken a huge priority.
“I know that when I play a lot at the start, by the end of the summer I’m pretty caught mentally and probably can’t produce the same performances.
“Last year I was probably batting my best at the back end of the summer against India, coming off not too much cricket at the start.”
The 36-year-old had his first outdoor net of the summer in Sydney on Tuesday, after a few throw-downs facing the side-arm in the past week.
But after just a few hits, Smith believes he is already in good nick for the summer with two Sheffield Shield matches to come before the first Test on November 21.
“Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel like I’m ready to go now,” Smith said.
“There’s obviously a balance, but I don’t think it takes me much now to get up to game speed and I want to try and stay as mentally fresh.
“Technically I feel in a good place, it’s about being mentally fresh.
“I’m not hitting as many balls as I used to.
“It’s to try and get the most out of myself mentally when I’m out in the middle and be able to concentrate for long periods of time.”
Smith’s more relaxed approach will also raise questions over whether he can play on for longer and until the 2027 Ashes.
But the right-hander said it was too soon to make a call on his future, and he would re-evaluate again at the end of this summer. The other facet for Smith is the captaincy. Pat Cummins is yet to resume bowling, meaning he is now almost certain to miss the first Test in Perth.
Smith will lead Australia, with the stand-in skipper believing he is more relaxed than when he was the full-time captain between 2013 and 2017.
And he also knows his batting also improves with the role, averaging 68.98 in the role compared to 49.90 when not captain.
“It’s interesting how the brain works,” Smith said.
“I feel like I kind of go to another level and try to set a standard, I suppose.”
Smith has backed Marnus Labuschagne to make the transition to Test opener, with the Queenslander taking on his advice to think less and just bat.
Labuschagne appears almost certain to be part of Australia’s team for the first Test in Perth next month, after peeling off four centuries in six innings for Queensland.
The main question remains where the right-hander will bat, and if selectors will opt to bring him back at No.3 or use him to partner Usman Khawaja at the top.
The veteran knows the challenge of moving up to open better than most, having averaged 28.5 in four Tests when he volunteered for the role in 2024.
“It’s not too different to batting No.3 to be honest,” Smith said.
“You could be in the first ball. It’s essentially the same thing, I don’t think he needs to change anything if that’s the case.
“Just play the game, play how he has been. See the ball, hit it and trust his instincts.”
Labuschagne has indicated his preference is to bat No.3, while playing there for Queensland. But he is also open to moving to the top of the order.
The 31-year-old opened in his last Test for Australia in June, making scores of 17 and 22 against South Africa before being dropped for the Frank Worrell Trophy.
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