Steve Smith thinks even a tied series in India will be a huge tick for them

Australia is preparing for the tour of India in an atmosphere where hardly anyone is giving them a chance to beat the No.1 Test team in their own backyard. While this can be a blessing for a team which can pump them up to put up an inspired show but Steve Smith and co. will have to play out of their skin to change the trend of visiting teams receiving a beating in India during this season.

Smith believes if his team is able to beat India they will rise in stature and might as well be termed ‘all-time greats’. “If you do well in India, this will give you massive credit. This tour can get you to the status of one of the all-time greats,” Smith was quoted by PTI as saying in the TOI. “Yep, if I can have a big series, then we are well on the way to doing well in this series.”

“A win on this tour would be huge with the the Ashes coming. If there is a tied series, that would be a huge tick for you! Absolutely a huge tick. A lot of people have written us off. We aren’t really thinking of results. We just need to get our processes right.

“We must compete with showing signs of learning and finding ways to grind out tough situations. If we do these things we will have success, but in reality it’s about following the process and the results look after themselves,” Smith said.

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The skipper is the most assured batsman against spin of course there is the aggressive David Warner but Smith will be expected to man the responsibility of anchoring the innings for his team and countering the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. His performance will also give confidence to his boys.

The right-hander knows he has a bigger responsibility leading the team. “I generally have been a good player of spin. I have my plans that I stick to and understand what works and what doesn’t. I learnt a bit from Sri Lanka. I just stick to my game plan under pressure. I can’t be content on little hundreds if I got there. It’s about scoring big ones,” Smith was quoted as saying in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

“I think you have to play the way you play and the rest looks after itself. I must use the crease well and change my guards to keep them (Indian bowlers) guessing. I must adapt to different periods of the game and win the big moments,” he added.

A tough tour, where the conditions and scenario doesn’t favour you is just when the players get to build and show real character as Test cricketers and this tour of India is a great prospect for some of the youngsters in the Aussie squad to stand up and deliver.

“Yes, definitely. That’s my job to understand what makes them tick and help develop game plans that work for them. The boys often come to me on tactics and strategies. The training here in Dubai has been great as it’s an open forum on honest discussions on each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

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When the Australian skipper was asked to name one player he thinks will do well in India, he said it will be Peter Handscomb in his opinion. “Handscomb will do well. He has a great understanding and is a talented athlete. Things like being good in other sports actually helps you being good in cricket. He plays spin well and uses the crease with scoring options,” Smith signed off saying.