"You feel whether he has ants in his pants" - Aakash Chopra lauds Steve Smith's knock in 2025 WTC final
Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Steve Smith for playing an 'incredible' knock on Day 1 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. He noted that the former Australia captain moved all around the crease before the ball was bowled but was absolutely still once it was being delivered.
Smith scored 66 runs off 112 balls as South Africa bowled Australia out for 212 in their first innings on Day 1 of the WTC final at Lord's on Wednesday, June 11. However, the Aussies bounced back to reduce the Proteas to 43/4 by Stumps.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Smith had contrasting approaches before and after the delivery was bowled.
"One thing that is standing out in his batting is that he moves so much before the ball is bowled that you feel whether he has ants in his pants. However, he becomes absolutely still when the ball is getting released. The head and body are still, and then there is no movement after that," Chopra said (2:55).
"Believe it or not, the guy wasn't moving at all while playing cover drives or cut shots. He plays only with his hands after that. He transfers his body weight and extends the arms from there itself. He is absolutely incredible," he added.
Chopra praised the unconventional batter for his improved off-side game.
"If you see his wagon wheel, you will find that he has scored a lot of runs on the off side. He used to be an on-side dominated player because the bottom hand used to work a lot. However, he scores a lot of runs on the off side now. That is what Test cricket does to you. You keep improving. You keep getting better. He got out against the run of play," he elaborated.
Steve Smith struck 10 fours during his 66-run knock. He was eventually caught by Marco Jansen at slip off Aiden Markram's bowling.
"Beau Webster was slightly fortunate" - Aakash Chopra on Australian all-rounder's knock on Day 1 of 2025 WTC final
![Beau Webster was the top scorer in Australia's first innings. [P/C: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/06/82efb-17497017485398-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Beau Webster made the most of an early reprieve by scoring a half-century.
"I felt Beau Webster was slightly fortunate because the umpire should have given him out lbw. Even if the umpire didn't give him out, they could have reviewed at least, but they didn't do that as well. So he got a life, and he too scored runs," he said (4:00).
While opining that South Africa didn't bowl well in the second session, the cricketer-turned-commentator praised the Australian batters for their positive approach.
"His playing style is slightly different, and I think South Africa didn't bowl well in that session. That session went towards Australia, and Australia also showed that you need to score runs to move ahead in the match. All movement is not progress, but progress is when you score runs," Chopra observed.
Beau Webster scored 72 runs off 92 deliveries with the help of 11 fours. He added 79 runs for the fifth wicket with Steve Smith, with Australia scoring 123 runs in the middle session while losing the solitary wicket of Smith.