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Steve Smith expressed that the key to getting the better of India’s Ravichandran Ashwin would be taking a more proactive approach against the off-spinner.
Steve Smith and Ravichandran Ashwin will be caught in a tightly-fought contest at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. (Image: AFP)
Australia’s talismanic batter, Steve Smith expressed that the key to getting the better of India’s Ravichandran Ashwin would be taking a more proactive approach against the off-spinner.
Reflecting on his contest during the 2020-21 series, Smith credited Ashwin’s preparations and skill which got the better of the Australian senior batter where Ashwin got him out thrice and twice later on in 2023.
“I don’t like getting out to off-spin in Australia. But he’s also a very good bowler and he came in with some decent plans. There were a couple of occasions where he got on top of me,” Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald, as quoted by PTI
“But then I got on top of him at the SCG when I was a bit more proactive (Smith made 131 and 81 at Sydney). So, that’s key for me. Just be proactive against him and not let him settle and bowl the way he wants to,” he added.
Ashwin’s record in Australia does not exactly stack up compared to his record at home. In Australia, he has an average of 42.15 which is not as good as his home record where he averages 21.57.
The Tamil Nadu-based spinner had suggested that he had worked out how to get the better of Smith after his initial struggles.
“I think I’ve kind of figured out what he does or how he bats, I’ve had an edge over him. I’ve had the wood over him,” Ashwin had told Channel Seven.
“Ashwin and I have had some good battles over the years. When you have five matches, if someone gets on top of another player, they could have 10 innings against them,” said the New South Wales man
“So, you’re facing those mental challenges each game, and if it goes one way early, they will feel under pressure against that player. There’s nowhere to hide in five games like there are in a two-game series,” he added.
Smith is 315 runs away from hitting the 10,000 run milestone and is set to reprise his role at the number for batting position after his brief stint at the top of the order after David Warner’s retirement.
(with PTI Inputs)
