Steve Smith is on a journey to rediscover himself, and a tiny change at the Gabba helped him get there

At 1:29pm in Brisbane, Steve Smith hit an on-drive. That was the day he became the real Steve Smith, plunderer of runs at an historic level and one of the most oddly elegant batters we've ever seen. As a nervy morning turned into a joyous afternoon at the Gabba, it was also clear what an incredibly positive influence Head was on Smith out in the middle. Head saluted his century with a smile and his now signature celebration — the helmet on the bat handle in a little nod to Aussie bowling coach Daniel Vettori — but Smith's came with a little more vigour. Whether it's his last or the beginning of a late-career resurgence, it was special to watch Steve Smith at his best again, looking an awful lot like that hungry young 20-something cricketer about to master his craft and take the world by storm.