Putting on a gritty, aggressive performance, it was 'classic' Smith at Edgbaston, leading from the front after the visitors had a horrid start to the innings.

Shoaib Akhtar has picked the best among the cricket's current fab four - Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root.

The first Test of the five-match series starts on August 1st at Edgbaston and it also marks the beginning of the World Test Championships.

In 2018, Warner and Smith were banned for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal. However, even after serving their ban, English fans were hostile against both in the recently concluded World Cup.

Steve Smith will take on David Warner, while the latter will be up against Nathan Lyon for a pre-Ashes trial match in Southampton.

Australia peaked at the right time and came into the 2019 World Cup as a hungry side and with the addition of David Warner and Steve Smith, the Aussies swept aside most of the teams on their way to the semis.

During the India- Australia clash, the Indian fans booed Smith and chanted 'cheater' when the defending champions were fielding. Kohli told the fans to clap and not to boo.

Steve Smith was constantly booed by Indian fans during the World Cup fixture between India and Australia at the Kennington Oval on June 9 which the Men in Blue won by 36 runs.

Steve Waugh, one of the toughest and most successful captains of all time, said he was impressed by Virat Kohli's action of asking the crowd to not boo Steve Smith.

A section of the Indian crowd was heard booing Steve Smith but Virat Kohli asked them to stop and clap instead because according to him, it was completely undeserving.

A day before Australia's World Cup encounter against India, Finch sounded quietly confident and his opinion seemed like sending out a strong message for the opposition.

Nathan Coulter-Nile slammed 92 off 60 balls and took Australia to 288 from a spot of bother while the West Indies middle-order collapsed and lost by 15 runs.

David Warner was booed when he walked out to open Australia's 208 chase and later when he reached a half-century against Afghanistan.

Despite peaking at the right time, the Australians will be aware that Afghanistan have the ability to rise to the challenge on the world stage.

Australia's coach Justin Langer has asked fans to show respect to David Warner and Steve Smith.

Both Smith and Warner will use the showpiece to restore their credentials after their role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Steve Smith and David Warner have already witnessed hostile crowd during Australia's two World Cup warm-up games.

Alex Carey has stated that the team knew that the crowd would be hostile towards Steve Smith and David Warner, but insisted that the duo handled the reaction 'really well'.

Australia may have had a year to forget in 2018, but the side picked the form as the World Cup inched closer. With Steve Smith and David Warner back in the team, Australia are a force to reckon with.

Shane Warne said that the fact that Australia love to rise to the challenge of big-ticket events will work in their favour in the 2019 World Cup.