Steve Smith justifies 'Spin Trio' selection ploy for Sydney Test

Ahead of the third and final Test match at Sydney, Australia skipper Steve Smith went on to add that the ploy of playing with three spinners in the Sydney Test is perhaps a foresight towards the Indian tour that will begin in February. Ashton Agar has also been called into the side with Lyon, O’Keefe, and Cartwright being the ones deployed in Sydney.

Smith also went on to add that there were indeed thoughts of playing three spinners in the Sydney Test given the history and nature of the wicket.

“In regards to having the three spinners around (it was) to work with one another and try and improve,” Smith said on Monday. “There were little thoughts of that and I guess playing the two spinners out here.

Smith went on to add that the selection committee perhaps had one eye on the Indian wickets that spin quite a bit. “Traditionally it does take some spin. The selectors probably have an eye on India and the guys that are possible to be there. I think it was a good opportunity to for those three to come together and do a little bit of work together. I think that was the thinking behind it.”

The previous few tours to the Indian subcontinent have been quite bad for the Australians in recent times. This also includes the fact that they have been the beneficiaries of a whitewash as well. In addition, the fact also sees Smith being one of those skeptical against the reverse swing in India.

“Reverse swing is a big player in India,” Smith said. “A lot of the wickets are pretty dry and take a lot of spins, so I think you need a bit of a mixture of both (spin and seam) to be successful in those conditions.”