Smudge Reportedly Feeling Much Better This Morning After Ride On The O-Bahn

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Steve Smith has reportedly woken up "feeling a lot better" this morning after spending part of yesterday afternoon riding the Adelaide O-Bahn and quietly absorbing several transport facts he had previously been unaware of.

Speaking to our reporter inside the Adelaide Oval media centre ahead of play this morning, Smith was asked briefly about his health after withdrawing from this Test due to a lingering virus, before embarking on an unprompted and detailed monologue about South Australia’s guided busway system.

"Yeah, feeling heaps better actually, thanks for asking," Smith said.

"Probably the O-Bahn helped. Did you know it opened in 1986 and runs at up to 100 kilometres an hour? Longest guided busway in the world. Concrete track. Guide wheels on the side of the bus. No steering. Just point it in and go. My driver yesterday entered the O-Bahn then pulled up the races at Oakbank on his iPad."

The Australian vice captain then paused briefly before clarifying that the O-Bahn was not, in fact, a train.

"A lot of people think it’s rail, but it’s buses," Smith said.

"That’s what makes it so clever. Same bus from the suburbs straight into the city. No transfers. Very efficient use of infrastructure. I really admire it. Humans are amazing."

At this point, team media staff reportedly attempted to intervene, with a Cricket Australia minder locking eyes with our reporter. But Smith continued, now warming to the topic.

"It actually reminds me a bit of the Ski-Tube in New South Wales," he said.

"That’s a funicular railway. Goes from Bullocks Flat up to Perisher. Underground. Electric. Very smooth. People don’t talk about it enough. It's privately owned as well. It is my goal to become cricket's first billionaire then perhaps buy the Ski-Tube."

Smith then briefly referenced the Puffing Billy Railway, the Gulflander in Queensland and what he described as "a really interesting light rail situation in Canberra, before thanking reporters for their time and wandering off to accept a warm can of Diet Coke from a fan.

Our fellow reporters say Smith appeared calm, energised and in high spirits, with one Cricket Australia official later confirming the batter had spent the evening watching public transport videos on YouTube and reading Wikipedia articles until quite late.

"He's definitely getting better," the official said.

"But he's obviously not back to 100 percent until he starts shadow batting in his room late at night, trying out new accents in the mirror and other things that make him much better at cricket than nearly anyone else on earth."

More to come.