It started at 1.30pm on the dot, and there was Smith, the first and only player out there on the lone centre-wicket net with coach Andrew McDonald and bowling coach Daniel Vettori carrying their trusty side-arms.

While the bowlers and Australia's two World Cup heroes Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh took the full day off, Smith was doing what Smith does. Grinding. Getting into the Test match rhythm. Honing his defence. His leave. Receiving an abnormally high volume of throws compared to his team-mates.

"It was a good hit out," Smith said before training at Perth Stadium on Tuesday. "It was nice to use the centre-wicket out at the WACA. Usually, it's pretty similar in terms of pace and bounce to what we get out here. I feel like I'm hitting the ball nicely so it's good prep and I'll get another hit in today. See how we go. I might come tomorrow if I feel I need it. If not, I'll put the feet up and get ready for Thursday."

"I'm not in any hurry to make any decisions," Smith said.

But whether Smith will return to his otherworldly run-scoring ways is a question lingering in the background. In a year of extraordinary team triumphs, Smith has been below his own exceptionally high standards. It is something he admits.

The wrist tendon issue impacted his preparation for the ODI World Cup. He was a passenger rather than a leading man in Australia's remarkable run to the title. His reluctance to buy in to Australia's ultra-aggressive method caused him to be shifted from No. 3 to No. 4, much to his displeasure.

He also stayed for the T20I series against India to try and make his case to remain in Australia's plans for next year's T20 World Cup but did not dispel the doubts about whether he is fit for purpose to be an opener in that tournament.

He knows he's been below his best and, as ever, one of Test cricket's great problem-solvers has his eyes on ensuring normal service resumes.

"Just score runs," Smith said. "I don't have to sort of reinvent the wheel. I think I've performed at a high standard for a long period of time. You're right, I was probably below my standards of what I want. So, for me, it's not overthinking it, not overplaying too much, not changing too much. Just going out and trusting what I do and doing it for longer periods of time hopefully to get the big runs and hopefully help our team as success."

Smith's team-mates were copping blows on the spicy green-tinged surfaces. Middle stumps were knocked back. Outside edges were taken. Smith looked impenetrable despite a blow on the gloves, batting until he was told others needed a turn. He sat and waited until his team-mates got their work in before returning for more throwdowns.

His hunger for batting remains insatiable.