Steve Smith had admitted he was pretty angry at himself for the manner of his dismissal in the second innings of Australia’s debilitating loss in Delhi, saying it “wasn’t his finest moment” in a 94-Test long career.
“I have played, what, 95 Test matches. I don’t think there have been too many times I have walked off the field and I have gone: “What the hell am I doing?” I was pretty angry,” Smith told reporters ahead of the third Test in Indore.
The Delhi win gave India a 2-0 series lead in the four-Test series, but the manner of Australia’s collapse on the third day was a major talking point. From being 65-1, and then 85-2, the visitors suffered a disintegration like few others, being shot out for 113 all out.
Australia’s hasty approach, and willingness to stick to the sweep and reverse sweep despite the regular loss of wickets, came under severe criticism after the game. Smith – who will captain the side in Indore in the absence of Pat Cummins – admitted that the side “rushed things a bit”, including his own dismissal which left the Australia No.4 “bedazzled”.
Smith was the third wicket to fall on the third day, trying to sweep Ashwin but missing. His dismissal was closely followed by that of Marnus Labuschagne, and Australia disintegrated after that, almost gifting India a six-wicket win.
“There haven’t been too many times in my 95, 94 [Tests] whatever I have played [in my] career, I would have actually come off and been bedazzled by what I have done,” Smith said, reflecting on the dismissal.
“So yeah, wasn’t my finest moment. But yes, something to certainly learn from. I am still learning as well. It wasn’t the way I wanted to play and particularly when I had the field set… all of us actually had the field out and get off strike. We probably just rushed things a little bit and it’s something we’ll talk about tomorrow when we’ve got them on the ropes, we can slow things down.
“You don’t have to play at such a high tempo and risky tempo. Because we had them where we wanted them. And then we had men out and the ability to get off strike, and we rushed it.”
