Internet Desk: Peter Handscomb remained not out on 72 and Shaun Marsh scored 53 as the duo put on a game-saving fifth wicket 124 run partnership occupying the crease under testing conditions for little less than four hours to force a draw.
“I’m very proud. They had magnificent plans. They backed their defence for a long period of time and to see the game out for as long as they did, it was an outstanding performance.
“I’m really proud of the way they did that. That’s one of the things we’ve been talking about — being resilient and sticking out the touch times. The way Petey and Shaun did that was absolutely magnificent,” said Smith.
“It’s probably on our side at the minute, but having said that it’s 1-all and we’re playing a decider in Dharamsala. Really exciting. group’s looking forward to it.”
Steve Smith said they are favourites in the Dharmasala decider from March 25.
“If there’s anything called momentum in cricket it’s probably with us at the moment. India coming today would have expected to bowl us out. I’m sure they’re hurting a little bit.”
With all of their batters barring David Warner in form, Smith said “it’s great signs for us that everyone is contributing.
But in hindsight he felt that they were about 100 runs short in the first innings, with Indian leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja making the difference with his 5/124.
“Everyone is in good form, we’ve have a good three Test matches but to be honest we probably left ourselves 100 runs short in the first innings.”
“We probably should have got ourselves 550 and been able to get in front of the game from there, things could have ended a bit differently.
“But that’s the game of cricket and. It’s great to see all the batters have worked very hard on their plans and are contributing and scoring runs.”
Having described the pitch as a “never seen before” one with mud “rolled together”, Smith also ate his words.
“I didn’t expect the game to go five days, certainly before a ball was bowled it didn’t look like it would hold together at all.
“Credit to the groundsman, the wicket held together beautifully. He said it would last five days and he was correct.
“It was a really nice wicket, a little bit of rough outside the right-hander’s leg-stump, left-hander’s off stump for Jadeja and O’Keefe to hit. It was a nice wicket.”
Austrlia however had a different scenario after India declared their innings for a mammoth 603/9 and made them bowl a 37-year high 210 overs.
India also took key wickets of David Warner and night watchaman Nathan Lyon as Australia ended the day at a precarious 23/2 in 7.2 over with a deficit of 129 runs.
They were further down two wickets after a set Smith and Renshaw got out in a space of four balls before lunch.
“It wasn’t ideal to lose two set batters at once. that’s one thing we always talk about here in India, to try not to lose wickets in clumps.
“But I had faith in the boys behind me. Petey’s looked very good in every game so far without going on to make a score.
“And today the way he did that, his 70 not out is worth 150 in my eyes. I thought he played beautifully and Shaun as well. They stuck to their plans throughout and never shied away from it.
I’m really proud of the way they did that.”
On the feel of bowling 210 overs yesterday, he said: “Tired. I’ve never spent 210 overs in the field before.
“SO’K (Steve O’Keefe) was actually joking for a minute there, he bowled 78 overs, if he bowled two more he was going to throw the ball off and get himself a new one from one end.”
Showering praise on Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha, he said: “It was a long time in the field and credit to India, they played beautifully. Pujara and Saha batted exceptionally well. It was a long time in the field.
“So credit to our boys the way they came out today after having such heavy legs and spending that time in the field, to be able hold out for the draw.”
Their preparation in Dubai also helped.
“It’s having a game plan and being able to stick to it. Having a defence and sometimes a defence is sweeping the ball out of the rough, although we didn’t see any of that today.
“Guys were backing their defence, and that’s important to do in these conditions. The way Petey and Shaun backed their defence was exceptional.”
With inputs from PTI.