No one can write us off now: Steven Smith

Tags: Australia tour of India,2017, Australia, Steven Peter Devereux Smith, Test match

Published on: Feb 27, 2017

Not many gave Australia too much of a chance in India. Former India champs like Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly even predicted a 4-0 whitewash. But all that has changed with Australia’s stunning win at Pune.

Not many gave Australia too much of a chance in India. Former India champs like Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly even predicted a 4-0 whitewash. But all that has changed with Australia’s stunning win at Pune.

"Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0. That can't happen anymore," Smith was quoted as saying in a DNA report.

The Aussie skipper’s next target is to win the series, "It's only one game. It's a four-match series and we'd like to win the series," Smith added, and went on to say, "For us it's about taking it one day at a time and continuing to worry about our processes. If we do that like we did in this game, hopefully the result will take care of itself. But it's going to be a tough road.

“We know India are going to come back incredibly hard. They're an amazing team particularly in their own backyard. They're going to come back hard. And we've got to be ready for it," he added.

Australia had lost nine straight Tests in Asia before the Pune match. Smith was the aware of the same. "Coming to India, we hadn't won a game here in 4,502 days. I've been told those facts. So, it has been an incredibly long time. The guys have been excited by the opportunity to come and play here. We know it's a great challenge, and this game the boys were up to the challenge," he explained.

Personally, Smith termed his 109 as one of his best Test knocks. "I obviously rode my luck throughout the innings, had a few lives. But you need a bit of luck on a wicket like that, and I was pleased with myself to score a second innings hundred in India, formulate some different plans than how I normally play. So from that aspect, I'm pleased with myself,” he further added.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

Related News