menu arrow-down reddit snapchat twitter facebook comments email printer search bell top-nav reddit-fill snapchat-fill twitter-fill facebook-fill share whatsapp-fill bookmark
ENG
  • Select Languages
  • हिंदी | Hindi
Search
Cricket
  • Scores
  • Series
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • News
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Teams
  • Players
  • Venues
  • ICC Rankings
  • Test Championship
Sports Home Cricket News Need To Be Proactive Against Ravichandran Ashwin And Not Allow Him To Settle Steve Smiths Tactic Against Spinner

Need To Be Proactive Against Ravichandran Ashwin, And Not Allow Him To Settle: Steve Smith's Tactic Against Spinner

Advertisement
Ad

Australian batting talisman 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.

  • Press Trust of India
  • Updated: November 17, 2024 06:01 pm IST
Read Time: 2 min
Need To Be Proactive Against Ravichandran Ashwin, And Not Allow Him To Settle: Steve Smith's Tactic Against Spinner
File photo of Steve Smith.© AFP

Australian batting talisman 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. Ashwin had nicked off Smith thrice during that rubber, and later in 2023 the Indian off-spinner dismissed the Aussie twice as he could only make 22 runs against his old foe. "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.


"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 Test bowling average stands at a modest 42.15 in Australia compared to his home average of 21.57.

Advertising
Advertising

Smith hoped to land the first blow on the 38-year-old to gain an early upper hand in the five-match series, beginning at Perth from November 22.

The Tamil Nadu man recently said that he had worked out Smith after some initial struggles against him.

"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.

But Smith did not read too much into it.

"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.

"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," said the New South Wales man.

Advertisement

The 35-year-old, who is 315 shy of 10,000 Test runs, will bat at his favoured No. 4 slot against India after opening the innings for four Tests earlier this year.

It was not a successful experiment and Smith hoped to hit the ground running early from a position where he made runs at an average in excess of 60.

Advertisement

'It always makes your summer better when you start well. It gives you a lot of confidence. It's about not overthinking things. It's playing each ball as it comes and keeping it simple.

"When I'm playing my best, I'm not overthinking and I'm just playing what's in front of me. It's going to be a good battle," he explained.

Advertisement

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket Australia Cricket Team Steven Smith
Advertisement
Get the Latest Cricket Updates, Check IPL 2025 News, Schedule, Points Table and Results at NDTV Sports. Like Us On Facebook Or Follow Us On Twitter For More Sports Updates. You Can Also Download The NDTV Cricket App For Android Or iOS.
Show full article
Trending Links
  • Paralympics 2024
  • Jay Shah
  • Virat Kohli
  • Paralympics Medal Tally
  • India's Schedule Paralympics 2024
  • Rohit Sharma
Follow us on:
facebook
twitter
Cricket
  • Live Scores
  • Series
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • News
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Teams
  • Players
  • Venues
  • ICC Ranking
Football
  • ISL 2022-23
  • EPL 2022-23
  • News
  • Features
  • Photos
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • Videos
  • Teams
  • Players
  • Matchcentre
More Sports
Formula 1 Tennis Hockey Badminton Golf Nba Kabaddi Shooting Swimming Table Tennis
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Feedback
  • Disclaimer
  • Investor
  • Complaint Redressal
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics © Copyright NDTV Convergence Limited 2025. All rights reserved.
Select Language
  • Languages
  • हिंदी | Hindi
Search
  • Featured Links
    • England vs India
    • ENG vs IND Test Schedule
    • Stats
  • Featured Sports
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Formula 1
    • Tennis
    • Hockey
    • Golf
    • Badminton
  • More Sports
    • Kabaddi
    • NBA
    • Boxing
    • Athletics
    • Chess
    • Swimming
    • Shooting
    • Wrestling
    • Table tennis
    • Othersports
  • More from NDTV
    • NDTV
    • Business
    • Hindi
    • Movies
    • Cricket
    • Health
    • Food
    • Tech
    • Auto
    • Apps
    • Trains
    • Art
arrow-rgt arrow-next arrow-up refresh close link cog star book zap cricket football tennis formula-1 badminton hockey golf boxing ndtv-n check left-arrow right-arrow