‘Smith acted like U-10 cricketer’

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took six wickets in the second innings of the Bangalore Test, has taken a swipe at Australia skipper Steve Smith’s action to seek dressing-room advice for a DRS referral, terming it “an under-10 game” approach.

Ashwin told bcci.tv that Smith’s move was reminiscent of the days he used to play junior cricket. “Steven Smith actually turned back and asked the dressing room if he could take a review. That is completely unheard of. The last time I thought that to happen was in an under-10 game when my where point fielders and cover fielders would stand.

“It was really surprising. I have a lot of respect for Steven Smith, but that was very, very surprising,” Ashwin told teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, who was with the spinner on the show.

Ashwin, who had a total of eight wickets in the second Test, told Aussie opener Matt Renshaw that he would have the visitors for “soup and dessert” if they did not put up a big total in reply to India’s first innings score of 189.

“They were having a lot of chat in the park when we were actually going out to bat and we were down. It is very easy to have a chat when you are down. I told Matt Renshaw when he was batting in the first innings that if they didn’t score big I would have them for soup and dessert. I am very happy that it happened.”

Pujara felt that India had stood up to the Aussie sledging tactics, saying, “...they were talking a lot and probably sledging is something which as a unit we felt that

Pujara, who slammed a match winning 92 in the second innings said he tried relentlessly to unse tle David Warner by remindin him about Ashwin’s recor against him. “They were alway under pressure when the walked in to bat, and I wanted t make sure their batsmen wer thinking about it, especiall Warner. Whenever he walks in t bat, Ash is always happy, so always keep reminding him tha Ash is the one who picks (up hi wicket),” said Pujara.

On his send-off to Aussie quic Mitchell Starc --- Ashwin pointe a finger to his temple --- the off spinner said it was a rejoinder t what the pacer had told Abhina Mukund earlier.

“I saw yesterday, Abh (Mukund) pulled Starc for a six he top-edged it for six. But yes, don’t think he was in any sort o hurry when he pulled that bal and Mitchell Starc suggested tha he would hit him on the helmet. don’t know, people generall have the habit of saying I’ll hi