Steve Smith freed by rescue team after getting stuck in lift 20 floors high

Australia haven’t been given many problems by England in the Ashes, although Steve Smith did find himself in a tough situation which had nothing to do with cricket.

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It seems elevators are currently giving Australia more problems than England are after Steve Smith had to be rescued after getting stuck in a lift.

Smith, 32, has played an integral role in the Aussies again retaining the Ashes, captaining the side in the second Test in the absence of Pat Cummins and making 93 in the first innings.

That proved the second of three straight Test match wins for the home side, leaving the tourists with little more than pride to play for ahead of the remaining games in Sydney and Hobart.

Smith leading the side at the Adelaide Oval represented a full circle of redemption for the prolific batter, having been sensationally stripped of the honour following the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket on the 2018 tour of South Africa.

He was duly banned from all forms of the game for 12 months, and barred from leading a side for a further 12 beyond that.

But while that ordeal prompted tears of despair, Smith was at least able to laugh about his latest problem.

On Thursday, he found himself trapped in the elevator at Australia’s team hotel for almost an hour, eventually rescued when a technician was able to wrench open the doors before the batter emerged to ironic applause.

He later uploaded an amusing video to Instagram, showing followers he managed to remain in a good mood despite being trapped 20 stories up.

“Not quite the night I had planned, I’m currently stuck in a lift,” he said on his post.

“The doors won’t open, it’s out of service – I’ve tried to get the door open, I’ve got this side open. Marnus [Labuschagne] is on the other side trying to open the door.”

Upon getting back to his room, he remarked: “That’s 55 minutes I’ll probably never get back.”

Smith and Labuschagne are renowned for being close friends, as well as formidable partners at the crease, and sure enough the latter was keen to make sure his friend didn’t go hungry by attempting to pass M&M’s through a gap in the door.

After coming out unscathed Smith, with more than 7,600 Test runs at an average of over 60, is certain to be named in the Australian side for the New Year Test at the SCG on January 4, as they now target a 5-0 whitewash.