Melbourne. Australia batsman Steve Smith wants to adopt a proactive approach against Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy to avoid his struggles against the Indian spinner during the 2020-21 series. This Indian off-spinner had dismissed this former Australian captain twice in 2023. Smith could score only 22 runs against Ashwin during this period. “I don’t like getting out against off-spin in Australia,” Smith said. However, he is a very good bowler and his plans are brilliant. There were some occasions when he was successful in dominating me.
Smith said, “I was able to dominate him at SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) by adopting a proactive attitude. In such a situation, it is important for me to bat actively against him and not let him get the rhythm and bowl the way he wants. Ashwin’s Test bowling average in Australia is 42.15 while his domestic average is 21.57. Smith was hopeful that he would be able to take an early lead against the 38-year-old bowler in the five-match series starting in Perth on November 22.
This Tamil Nadu player had recently said that he has made some plans against Smith. Ashwin told ‘Channel Seven’, “Steve Smith is particularly attractive as a player against spin. He has a unique technique, even to play fast bowling. But in terms of spin, I think he came with a good strategy and good preparation and yes, he can play it in any format. Used to apply in the situation. And over the years I have discovered ways and means of understanding it.”
Australia’s New South Wales player Smith said, “When facing Ashwin, you have to deal with the mental challenge. If someone is successful in establishing dominance in the beginning of the series, he can dominate.” Thirty-five-year-old Smith is 315 runs away from 10,000 Test runs. He will return to bat at his preferred number four position in the series against India. Smith had opened the innings in the last four Tests but he was not successful in it.
