Aussies chilled by Dalai Lama

– Australian skipper Steve Smith (above) revealed yesterday his team held a relaxing session with the Dalai Lama where they learnt about keeping their cool, just a day ahead of the high-pressure series decider against India.

Smith has been in the centre of a controversy after his opposite number Virat Kohli accused him of systematically abusing the Decision Review System (DRS) during the second Test in Bangalore.

The Aussie captain has admitted breaching the DRS rules by looking up to his own dressing-room to seek advice over whether to review an lbw dismissal, but he insists it was a one-off “brain-fade”.

The verbal volleys have continued unabated with each side hurling accusations at each other through the bitterly-fought series, poised 1-1 ahead of the finale in Dharamsala beginning today.

The stakes could not be higher as Australia seek to win their first Test series in India in 13 years despite starting as underdogs.

With emotions running high, the Australian team headed out for a private meeting yesterday morning with the Dalai Lama who has lived in exile for over half a century in McLeodganj, a suburb of Dharamsala, nestled in the Himalayas.

“I asked him a question about sleeping and how he could help me and he gave me his blessings,” Smith said at a news conference.

“We rubbed our noses together. Hopefully it will help me with my sleep over the next five days,” he joked. – AFP