Aus vs NZ: Steve Smith gets loud SCG crowd cheers after taking 39 balls to get first run

New Zealand are currently playing for pride at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as they take on Australia in the final Test of the 3-match Test series. A flu-affected Kiwi side is missing its dependable skipper Kane Williamson along with veterans Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Neil Wagner has managed to remain fit enough for the match and is currently a part of the first innings bowling line-up for the Kiwis as they try to rattle the Aussies on Day 1 on Friday.

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Steve Smith takes an hour to get off the mark

Most cricket lovers and pundits may have observed that Steve Smith does not exactly try to attack the bowling and takes his time to settle into his innings. Recently, West Indies legend Brian Lara also commented on Smith's style and added that he did not expect the Aussie batsman to eclipse his 400* score as he does not bat "aggressively enough". This morning, after Joe Burns, David Warner, and Marnus Labuschagne gave a decent start to Australia, Steve Smith came in to bat and got off the mark after 39 balls. Yes! One of the world's best batsmen took an hour to score his first run and the crowd was left in splits. Even Neil Wagner, Smith's biggest nemesis, could not help but crack a smile. In fact, Smith had to dive to complete a tight first run. Have a look.

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Smith's 39th ball first run is the longest time that an Australian batsman has taken to get off the mark in the last two decades. At the time of this writing, Australia are on 128/2. Marnus Labuschagne is on 48 off 94 balls and Steve Smith is on 13 runs off 58 balls.

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