Sydney: He has given plenty of headaches to Indian bowlers in the last four days. However, former Australian skipper Steve Smith has revealed that he nearly missed the second ODI against India played Sunday. Steve Smith stated that he suffered a ‘bad dose of vertigo’ and was not sure of playing. Ultimately he played and hit a series-winning century. He helped the hosts score a mammoth 389 for four in the second ODI. They defended the runs easily to secure a decisive 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
However, Smith said he ‘didn’t look great there for a while’. “I didn’t know I was playing today (Sunday). I had a really bad dose of vertigo in the morning and I was struggling. I came down early to have a hit and a bit of a run around and then it eased,” Smith was quoted as saying Monday by ‘cricket.Com.Au’. In the process Smith also collected his second successive Man of the Match award.
Also read: Steve Smith’s fifth ton against India fires Australia to 389/4 in 2nd ODI
Smith said it was team doctor Leigh Golding, who relieved him of the symptoms by performing ‘Epley maneuver’. It involves a series of head movements used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It is condition caused by a problem in the inner ear.
“The doctor, I think he performed six Epley manoeuvres on me. He got the crystals out of my ears and I was struggling for a bit,” Smith informed. “Just pleased to be able to get out here and play another good innings and help the team,” he added.
Smith scored 105 off 66 balls in the first ODI. In the second game, he shared a 138-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne. Then Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 63 off 29 balls to take Australia to a formidable total. Smith also took a superb catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer during Indian innings Sunday.