Steve Smith feels that the Australian team’s batting depth will be tested in the absence of David Warner, who is out injured in the first Test at Adelaide starting December 17 onwards.
The hosts Australia will probably field a new-look opening pair in Marcus Harris, and Joe Burns as David Warner is ruled out for the first test and youngster Will Pucovski is doubtful after suffering a concussion in a tour practice match.
Steve Smith: Batting Depth Is Going To Be Tested Against Quality Indian Bowling With David Warner Out Injured In 1st Test
David Warner will definitely be missed as he is in excellent form in tests too scoring a career-best unbeaten 335 against Pakistan and his 24th test century against New Zealand in the previous two-Test series. His average was an unbelievable 489 against Pakistan and 59.4 against New Zealand.
“Our depth is obviously going to be tested with Davey (Warner) out and few potentially new players coming in. It will test us no doubt against a good Indian outfit,” Smith said at a virtual news conference.
“They beat us out here last time and they’re a very good side. It’s gonna be a great series and whoever’s up there and whoever’s in the team hopefully we will do our job.”
Steve Smith rated the Indian bowling attack comprising of likes of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav highly even though he felt it’s not the “strongest” without veteran Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out of the four-match Border Gavaskar Test series because of a side strain suffered while bowling in the IPL 2020 at UAE.
“Mohammed Shami has played a lot of cricket, Jasprit Bumrah has played a reasonable amount of cricket and is a quality bowler. In the spin department, whichever spinner they use, be it Ashwin, Jadeja or Kuldeep, they’ve all played a fair bit of cricket now.”
“The quicks perhaps haven’t played quite as much but they’re all good bowlers. We’re gonna have to be at our best as a batting group if we’re gonna beat them.”
Indian team management will have a tough time to select the playing XI in the first test. Still, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav being the 3 pacers and the lone spinner will be Ravichandran Ashwin as Ravindra Jadeja is doubtful after suffering a concussion in T20I series. Mohammed Siraj is another pace option while it will be interesting to see who among Hanuma Vihari and Kuldeep Yadav is included.
Steve Smith Will Be Pretty Watchful Against Jasprit Bumrah Who Will Be Faced By Him For 1st Time In Tests
Steve Smith will face-off with Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has 68 wickets averaging 20.34 in 14 Tests for the first time in the longer format and the Australian said the key against the pacer’s awkward action is to be watchful all the time.
“I’m not doing anything specific. I think his skill-set won’t probably change too much. He’s got that awkward action, very different to a lot of people. So you’ve got to be pretty watchful all the time.”
The former Australian skipper was suspended for a year for his alleged role in the ball-tampering scandal and missed India’s last Test series alongside David Warner that the Virat Kohli-led side won 2-1 to win their first Test series Down Under.
“That was the toughest thing to me knowing that I probably could make a difference out there.”
Virat Kohli, however, will play only the first-day night test at Adelaide and will miss the last three Tests. Steve Smith said it would be a big loss for India but credited Virat Kohli for his decision to be back home to attend the birth of 1st child.