'Water off a duck's back': Steve Smith's ton silences English crowd
Steve Smith's teammates have paid tribute to the former Test skipper after he brushed aside abuse from the crowd to lead Australia to a 12-run victory over England in Southampton.
Although the match was only a warm-up fixture against an undermanned England side, Smith scored a brilliant 116 to put the rest of the world on notice.
His celebrations to mark the century were muted, given it was not an official match, but while there was applause from the 11,500-strong crowd there were also plenty of boos from the stands.
"It's water off a duck's back and it doesn't bother me. I try to black it out,” Smith tol reporters.
"They call it 'white noise'. When I'm out in the middle I don't pay attention to the crowd or what they're saying," he added after top-scoring in a total of 297 for nine.
Khawaja, who scored 31 batting at five, said his former NSW teammate is so zoned-out when he bats, the boos were a waste of time.
"Smudger batted beautifully and takes everything in his stride," Khawaja said.
"I have known him a long time and he is such a lovely kid. It's great to see him out there and scoring runs as I know how much he loves the game.
"I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he didn't hear any of it. It is hard enough even for me to get something out of him when he is batting."
Vice-captain Alex Carey said he felt the atmosphere at the game was not too hostile and that the team are braced for being abused by crowds for the whole of the next four months.
"We knew it was going to happen," Carey said.
"The best way to answer is to get a hundred and Davey (Warner) got 40 as well.
"I think it adds to the game as well and we're probably going to get that reception wherever we go."
While Smith laid the platform for the win, it was the bowlers who sealed it with a disciplined display that kept England's big hitters in check.
With Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins rested, Jason Behrendorff (2-51) and Kane Richardson (2-43) deputised superbly.
Marcus Stoinis also grabbed a wicket and bowled out the last over which produced two run-outs.
Spinners Adam Zampa (1-54) and Nathan Lyon (1-37) also bowled tidily with Jos Buttler (52) and James Vince (64) top scoring for the hosts.
Warner scored a composed 43 before holing out to his IPL opening partner Jonny Bairstow on the boundary.
Smith reached three figures from 95 balls and has now scored 89 not out, 91 not out and 76 in his last three innings and hitting form at the perfect time.
Australia face Sri Lanka in their final tune-up on Monday before a tricky tournament opener against Afghanistan, who beat Pakistan on Friday, in Bristol on June 1.
Skipper Aaron Finch was the first player to depart for five after he was deceived by a slower Mark Wood delivery and chipped the ball to Moeen Ali.
It was to be one of Wood's final contributions in the field with the quick going off with a foot problem after bowling one ball of his fourth over to give the England camp another injury concern.
Shaun Marsh (30) and Khawaja got out after getting starts and Marcus Stoinis was run out for 13.
Alex Carey's quickfire 30 off 14 balls upped the ante before becoming Liam Plunkett's third victim with Nathan Coulter-Nile (1) his fourth.
Smith departed on the penultimate ball of the innings, when he was caught and bowled by Tom Curran with Adam Zampa then run out.
