India vs Australia: ‘I’ve let him dictate terms’ – Steve Smith wishes he had been more aggressive against Ravichandran Ashwin

India vs Australia: ‘I’ve let him dictate terms’ – Steve Smith wishes he had been more aggressive against Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates Steve Smith's wicket

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates Steve Smith's wicket
Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates Steve Smith’s wicket

Australia batting mainstay Steve Smith has been unexpectedly silent in the ongoing Border Gavaskar series. The run machine has registered scores of 1, 1*, 0 and 8 in the series so far as India is looking keen to claw their way back into the series following the Adelaide debacle. While a battle between Smith and India’s fiery quicks was expected to still the show. It is Ravichandran Ashwin who has proved to be Smith’s adversary this series.

Ashwin has dismissed the Aussie twice so far in the series. And Smith regrets not being aggressive against the offspinner. Smith shares that he has always taken the attack to the opposition while batting disturbing their rhythm. But it has not been the case this time around. And it has allowed Ashwin to ‘dictate terms.’

“I probably haven’t played Ashwin as well as I would’ve liked; I probably would’ve liked to have put him under a bit more pressure,” said Smith to SEN.

“I’ve sort of let him dictate terms and that’s something I’ve probably never let any spinner do in my career. I’ve sort of taken it to them, been a bit more aggressive and made them change things. I haven’t allowed that to happen, probably because I’m searching for just being out there for long enough. It’s kind of a two-edged sword in a way, but I think I’ve just got to have the confidence to take it on and play my game,” said Smith.

I’m searching for time in the middle

Steve Smith
Steve Smith

Following the 2019 Ashes, where Smith was in red hot form against the red ball, he has not been able to get going in the middle. It has been more than 400 days since his last Test ton which came in Manchester. And Smith is looking to spend time in the middle to regain his lost form. The ICC Test Cricketer of the Decade asserts that net sessions can never replace actual game time in the middle. And it is something he is chasing right now.

“At the moment I’m searching for time in the middle; that’s the most important thing for me. When I look at this year, 64 balls is the longest I’ve spent in the middle, during those one-day games.”

“For me, that’s important. I find a lot of rhythm out in the middle. You can bat as much as you want in the nets but there’s nothing that can replicate what a game can do, so that for me is what I’m searching for at the moment. “That can be tough to do, particularly in a Test match when you’ve got some quality bowlers,” Smith signed off.

India have levelled the ongoing Test series with a clinical eight-wicket win at the MCG. And all eyes will be on Smith as Australia look set records straight following India’s historic Test series win on their last visit Down Under.

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