Ravichandran Ashwin gives insight into Steve Smith’s captaincy in Chennai ODI against India
Australia beat India by 21 runs at Chennai.
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Mar 25, 2023 4:52 pm
Steve Smith and Ravichandran Ashwin (Source: Twitter)
India and Australia played against each other in an ODI series recently. The Kangaroos were better than the Men in Blue in most aspects. One more highlight on the list was Steve Smith’s captaincy. He moved like a hawk on the field and was also very proactive on the field with his changes. He was very animated and was always having chats with his bowlers in the field.
Ashwin on his YouTube channel dwelt in detail as to how Steve Smith orchestrated Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the third ODI. In the 34th over of India’s chase, Ashton Agar came into the attack and dismissed Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav off successive balls. The two right-handers tried to hit the left-arm spinner for six but the pitch which had slowed up did not allow them to. The ball dropped just short of the fielder twice.
He also made David Warner come inside from long off – Ravichandran Ashwin on Steve Smith’s captaincy
Smith noticed the same and told Agar to bowl the balls outside off-stump. This ploy was to make the batters go for the big shots. This happened and both the batters got out. He also told David Warner who was positioned at long off to stay inside and not on the boundary. India lost to Australia by 21 runs and the Kangaroos took the ODI series 2-1 against the Men in Blue.
“Another talking point has to Virat Kohli’s wonderful 50. Let me highlight Steve Smith’s captaincy here. When Adam Zampa and Ashton were bowling, the pitch was holding a bit. Not all the balls turned, some were holding and going straight as well. Both Virat and Hardik tried to hit over extra cover and the ball fell just short of the long-off fielder. At that time, I noticed Steve Smith was constantly telling Ashtan Agar from the first slip, ‘keep bowling it outside’. He was repeating this. Ashwin elaborated.
Because when they see the line, they will try to go over extra cover and if the ball holds its line and goes straight, it will go straight to long-off. He also made David Warner come in a bit from long-off and set-up the entire dismissal,” Ashwin added. Kohli was caught by Warner at long-off Agar and then the left-arm spinner dismissed Suryakumar for a golden duck.
