In his first Test innings as Australia’s captain, Steve Smith led the team from the front. While all the top-order batsmen squandered away their starts, Smith stood tall and scored 133 to take Australia to 505 as a reply to India’s 408.
“I said before the Test that I want to lead from the front with my performances. Hopefully, I have done so in this game and I hope it continues in the future as well,” he said.
The maturity in Smith’s batting came to the fore when in an epic 148-run partnership with Mitchell Johnson for the seventh wicket, he changed gears seamlessly to let his fiery partner take charge. Thanks to that stand, Australia recovered from 247 for 6 to 505 all-out.
“We were six down for 247 and the Indian bowlers were bowling really well,” he said. “Mitchell Johnson came out, took them on and played some terrific cricket. Our whole tail batted beautifully and to take us to 505 was remarkable.
“It is tough in this heat for the bowlers and we faced the same thing in our first bowling innings. When your tail bats like that it is always a nightmare for the opposition. So, credit to our boys. We had a good day of cricket and we hope to start well in the morning tomorrow.”
With India trailing by 26 runs at the end of the third day, Smith wants his bowlers to make early inroads on the fourth morning to set up a winning chase. “The wicket is still playing well and not doing many tricks. So the boys have to come out tomorrow and do what we did the other morning when we took six wickets in the first session of the second day. It’s again about being patient and putting the ball in the right area.”
