India vs Australia: “Let it go and move on”, Steve Smith’s advice to Indian cricketers
Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia’s premier batsman Steve Smith on Tuesday advised Indian cricketers to leave behind the scar of 36 all out in the first test at Adelaide Oval. Smith has suggested the Indians to ‘Let it go and move on” as there is very less time to think before the Boxing Day test which starts at the MCG from December 26.
The Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood produced one of the finest fast bowling performances in recent times to dismiss India for their lowest Test score of 36 in the opening day-night Test here. Australia won by eight wickets and the series will now move to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test starting December 26.
“Look, the other day we just saw some pretty incredible fast bowling. It is probably the best I’ve seen our bowlers bowl collectively for about five years I think,” Smith said during a virtual media conference on Tuesday.
“The lengths they were hitting were just impeccable. Sometimes that happens, you get a good ball and you nick it…You got to let it go and move on and try and keep yourself in a positive mindset,” the 31-year-old added.
Asked what he feels would be the Indian mindset after such a huge defeat, he said: “Again every individual is different, the way they take their dismissals, how they think about the game after it’s finished.
“It’s important to keep moving forward, look at yourself individually, what you could have done better.”
Star pacer Mohammed Shami’s fractured wrist has dealt a double blow to India as talismanic skipper Virat Kohli will be on paternity during the last three Tests.
“Not thinking too much about India and how they’re going to come back. For us, it’s just about doing the things we need to do well. It’s about just executing what we need to do out in the middle and doing it to the best of our ability,” Smith said.
On Shami’s absence, Smith said India still have some quality bowlers in Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj.
“I think they’re two quality bowlers who can have some good Test careers. Obviously they are missing Ishant (Sharma) as well, which is a big loss for them in terms of experience.”
Smith was out for one, deceived by a beautiful Ravichandran Ashwin delivery, in the opening Test and asserted that he has learnt his lessons.
“The spinners that do well here generally those who get over the top of the ball and beat you with more bounce or in the air as opposed to ones that come around the ball.
“It’s about finding a way to adapt and that’s what the best players do around the world. I’ll hopefully learn something from that, move forward and play a little bit better in the next game,” he explained.