Australia batted first in the 2025 World Test Championship Final after South Africa captain Temba Bavuma invited the rivals to post a total. The Proteas made early breakthroughs, leaving Australia at 67 for 4. Steve Smith played a stabilising role, scoring 66 runs from 112 balls before being dismissed by part-time Aiden Markram. At the end of the day, Smith gave a cheeky response in the press conference, leaving everyone amused.

The reporter asked, “Is there anything you’ve learned from today that you might approach differently in the second innings?”

Smith chuckled and replied, “Well, Don’t nick a part-timer (The ball was going) down the slope, and I’m still trying to figure out how I managed that. But yeah, next time, I’ll just play what’s in front of me. The ball might turn more as the game progresses, it’s pretty dry. The seam could also wear down as the match goes on. So, I think the bounce will be unpredictable, as we’ve already seen on day one. Hopefully, we can get a few early wickets tomorrow, push through, and build a bit of a lead. That’s the ideal situation for us right now.”