I think I got under the Indian team's skin on a few occasions: Steve Smith

With the Australian team set to tour India later this year, skipper Steven Smith recently opened up about some of the niggling tactics he used to assuage Virat Kohli’s side during the Border-Gavaskar Test series in March. The Aussies hold a reputation for sledging and trying to get under the skin of the opposition, but Smith revealed he has developed a very modern take on the ancient art.

The Australia captain had his fair share of run-ins during the series and unveiled that it was an intentional ploy to “annoy” the opposition. He had an extremely animated confrontation with Ishant Sharma which saw the bowler react to a length ball that failed to bounce, by pulling a series of neck-jerk faces. On the second morning, the Australia captain was engaged in an animated discussion with rival skipper Kohli. Smith responded with a head wobble of his own and it was on.

Speaking on the Back Page Live panel show this week, Smith said, “I like to try and annoy them a little bit with some of my mannerisms rather than anything I say. I think I got under (the Indian team’s) skin on a few occasions, which was nice,”

The tactics and the manoeuvre did help Australia clinch a comprehensive victory in the first Test at Pune. However, the Men in Blue pulled up their socks and defeated the Aussies in Bangalore and Dharamsala reclaim the trophy with a 2-1 series win.

Australia has a jam-packed schedule ahead

The team from Down Under is currently scheduled to attend a week-long training camp in Darwin on August 10. Following that, the team travels to Bangladesh for a two-Test series.

Australia will tour India for five-match ODI and three-match T20I series. Though the venues have been finalized the dates for the games are yet to be confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but local media has reported Australia’s schedule will run from September 17 until October 11.