Smith&Cotarget Kohli, promise to behave
AUS IN INDIA Australia skipper says keeping Virat Kohli quiet will go a long way in helping the visitors do well
Australia skipper Steve Smith believes keeping Virat Kohli quiet would be key to Australia succeeding in the limitedovers series against India starting here on September 17. However, he promised it would see none of the acrimony that soured the Tests in March.
Kohli is in red-hot form, and emerged the highest run-getter in the 5-0 win over Sri Lanka with a tally of 330 runs, which included two centuries and a fifty. The Indian captain hit his 30th ODI century to equal Australian great Ricky Ponting’s record. Smith, who has eight O DI centuries, said he was not too concerned about the gulf between him and Virat Kohli but acknowledged getting the Indian skipper cheap ly will be key to success in the series.
“I am not too concerned about the difference with Kohli. He is obviously a very good player and has a phenomenal ODI record. Hopefully, we can keep him quiet as much as possible in this series. If we dothat then hopefully it can go a long way in us having success on this tour,” Smith told reporters after a practice session.
PAST CONTROVERSIES
Australia have landed after drawing their two-Test series in Bangladesh 1-1. Spin bowling dominated those contests and tackling slow bowling will again be the key.
“This is going to be a tough tour. India have been playing good cricket for a while now and they had a very successful tour of Sri Lanka,” Smith said.
Australia’ s Test tour in March was mi red in controversy. During the second Test in Bangalore, Smith was in focus after admittin g to looking towards the dressing room for help on aD RS call, describing it as “brain fade”.
However, K oh li accused Smith of ‘cheating’ and in turn was the target of criticism by the Australian camp, including its Board CEO, James Howard. Smith, however, promised there won’t be a repeat of such incidents.
“I think it will be played in good spirit. It is a hard-fought contest playing against India. We’re excited by the challenge of playing over here.”
The five-match ODI series starts in Chennai on September 17.
FRESHSPINTEST
Australia lost the last ODI series in India 2-3, in a high-scoring affair. However, Smith said: “I wasn’t there in 2013, but it was a run fest from memory. Pretty flat wickets and big totals. We will see what we are presented with, it could be the same again.”
The Aussies will be facing a fresh challenge in terms of spin with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rested. “This is a completely different format (compared to Tests). Axar Patel has done pretty well for them.
(Yuzvendra) Chahal is in the squad as well. KuldeepY ad avis a good bowler too. They certainly have some goods pin options and we have got to play them really well throughout the series,” Smith said.
“The One-day group has played spin pretty well for a while. We are still learning in the Test format and trying to improve. We are coming from a challenging tour of Bangladesh.
Hopefully, we can keep him quiet as much as possible in this series. If we do that then hopefully it can go a long way in us having success on this tour
On India captain Virat Kohli
I think it will be played in good spirit. It is a hardfought contest playing India. We’re excited by the challenge.
On how this series might be played