Australia lost to Bangladesh by 20 runs in the first Test match at Dhaka, and this loss raised many questions over the selection of Ashton Agar over Steve O’Keefe, as Steve was their joint highest wicket taker on their tour to India. This loss was Australia’s first Test defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. Moreover, Australia’s fast bowler Peter Siddle also criticised Agar’s selection over O’Keefe.
Australia lost 2-1 to India in the four-match Test series in India early this year. The series was hard for the Australians, as their batsmen struggled against the Indian spinners, not only that their spinners too couldn’t trouble the Indian batsmen as much because of their lack of experience.
Smith responded to the criticism and said he wanted to have a much more experienced side the next time Australia tour India for a Test series in 2021. Smith said,
“It’s four years until we next go to India which is always a tough tour for us and one that I particularly as captain want to win (at some stage) throughout my tenure.”
Siddle criticised Smith by saying,
“He can think that, but it’s probably not something that he should have said out loud, “There is a lot of cricket to be played in four years. There is an Ashes series coming up where we will use a certain amount of players. There will be Test matches in a couple of years coming that will be just as important.It made it hard and it added extra pressure to the boys … let’s just worry about the moment.”
On this Smith reacted by saying,
“Peter Siddle’s entitled to his opinion but I never think that we’ve looked too far ahead and not concentrated on this tour, that’s for sure, “We always focus in on the tour that we’re playing in. At times you also have to look a bit to the future and look at guys that we think can play a role. I was pretty open when I said Ashton Agar’s a player that we think has a bright future and needs to get some game time in these conditions. There’s nothing like playing in these conditions. I was open about that. I don’t think at any point we really said that we weren’t concentrating on this tour. I don’t think that was ever the case.”