India vs Australia: Smith reveals faster footwork and attacking intent against Ashwin worked wonders

Sydney, January 8: Australian batsman Steve Smith reveals faster footwork along with the tactic of attacking Ravichandran Ashwin right from the start of the innings worked wonders for him during his first century on home soil in three years.

R Ashwin had got the better of the Australian run-machine, who just managed to score only 10 runs in the first Two Tests, but Smith bounced back to form with 131 to steer Australia to 338 in the first innings of the third Test in Sydney despite a middle-order failure.

Following the knock, Smith expalined how his early attacking intent and faster feet against India's premium spinner Ashwin helped him stitch up a century.

"I decided to be a bit more positive. I think early on, I hit him over his head, just put a bit of pressure on him so that he bowls where I wanted him to bowl. It was a concerted effort to do that and I was happy with the way I played him," Smith said during virtual press conference.

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Smith also added that he did not change his technique against the fast bowlers but was "just being faster on his feet particularly against the spin".

"In this game, I was probably a little more aggressive early and tried to put it back on the bowler a little bit more.

"I got off to a nice start, I was almost run-a-ball 20. So (I) got myself going and got into my innings and then you just have to play the game, absorb pressure when you need to, put pressure on when you need to and I did that pretty well in this innings," he added.

The Aussie batsman also sarcastically said that it was nice to be back in form even though he had scored two 60-odd ball hundreds in the ODIs.

"...I have read a lot of things as I think I have said numerous time and plenty of people said I was out of form, so it was nice to come back I guess in the form, if that's what you want to call it," Smith said.

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"It was only two or three weeks ago when I scored two hundreds at the SCG. It kind of makes me laugh sometimes when people say that kind of things," the anger was palpable.

"(I) missed out on the first two Test matches obviously, come-back today and scored some few runs and help I guess put us in a decent position," the 31-year-old added.

Although they were well on road to a higher total, Smith feels the total of 338 put up by Australia is a decent one, but admitted they would have liked to score a few more runs.

"I think it's a decent total. It would have been nice to score a few more. You always want more. It's a bit up and down the wicket.

"The boys bowled pretty well this evening and if continue to bowl really disciplined tomorrow, I think we are going to get some opportunities, could have easily been three or four tonight the way that the boys went about it, but I think we are in good place, start well in the morning and build some pressure and see how it goes," he said.

India vs Australia 3rd Test | Steve Smith makes a return to usual at the SCG

Smith also said it was always a special feeling to score hundreds at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which happens to be his home-turf.

"Always special. I love playing here at the SCG. It's a great place to bat. My home ground and I think my mum and dad were here so they were able to see that.

"Just proud to get three figures on the board and just spend some time out in the middle and help us post a decent score. It would have been nice for us to score a few more but we've still got some runs on the board on wicket that is little-bit bit up and down," he added.

(With PTI inputs)