"Trying to fathom how I've done that" - Steve Smith rues his dismissal on Day 1 of SA vs AUS 2025 WTC Final

Australian talisman Steve Smith lamented his dismissal on Day 1 (June 11) of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa at the Lord's Cricket Ground. Smith could not believe the way he got out after scoring 66.

The 36-year-old looked the best among all the Aussie batters on Day 1 in the challenging conditions that the Lord's presented. The right-handed batter reached his fifty with a boundary but nicked one to slip off Aiden Markram's bowling as he went for a cover drive. The veteran walked back for 66, marking a massive moment in the game.

Speaking at the presser after Day 1, the former captain said he loves batting at the Lord's but rued missing out on a bigger score. He said, as quoted by cricket.com.au:

"Don't nick the part-time off-spinner. Down the slope. I'm still trying to fathom how I've done that. But yeah, don't do that. And we've just got to play what's in front of us (in the second innings). I felt in a nice place, I love batting here at Lord's. I enjoyed my time out there while I was out there (but) left a few in the shed unfortunately."

Smith and Beau Wesbter (72) were the only Australian batters to score fifties, with South Africa's pace attack bowling relentlessly. Although the Baggy Greens walked off at 190-5 during Tea break, they lost their last five wickets for just 22 runs to be bowled out for 212.

"The seam movement might go down as the game goes on" - Steve Smith on SA vs AUS 2025 WTC Final

Steve Smith. (Image Credits: Getty)

Smith believes the wicket at the Lord's offers significant seam movement with the new ball, though he expects spin to come into play as the game wears on. In the same interview, the New South Welshman said:

"I feel day one here it always offers a little bit of something, even when the colour of the wicket was quite white (like it was today). I've seen one-day (international) wickets that we've played on here where it's been similar and it's actually seamed quite a bit, particularly with the newer ball."

"It might take a bit more spin as the game wears on, it's pretty dry. The seam movement might go down as the game goes on as well, so I think the bounce is going to be variable throughout, as we've seen already on day one," he added.

The Test is nicely poised after Day 1, as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins hit back by picking up four South African wickets, reducing them to 43/4.