Gabba pitch playing tricks, should suit Australia on Day Five - Steve Smith

Australia's bowlers will have to be patient on the final day in Brisbane to trouble the Indian batting line-up and clinch victory, says Steve Smith.

Published : Jan 18, 2021 15:46 IST , Brisbane

Steve Smith raises his bat after reaching fifty on Day Four in Brisbane. -  GETTY IMAGES
Steve Smith raises his bat after reaching fifty on Day Four in Brisbane. - GETTY IMAGES
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Steve Smith raises his bat after reaching fifty on Day Four in Brisbane. - GETTY IMAGES

The pitch at Gabba has started to play a few tricks and Australia’s bowlers will have to be patient to trouble the Indian batting line-up on Day Five, according to batsman Steve Smith. India was 4 for 0 chasing 328 for victory before the final session of the play was suspended early due to rain on the fourth day on Monday.

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“I think the game is in a nice place for us. I think the wicket has started to play a few tricks today, couple of balls shot up,” Smith said at the virtual post-day press conference, facilitated by official broadcaster Sony Networks .

“So, tomorrow it is just going to be about bowling [in] good areas and letting the natural variation of the Day Five wicket sort of do its work and hopefully we can hold on to all the chances,” he said.

The rain factor is also going to be a crucial one on the final day but Smith would rather focus on controllables. “Who knows? That is a tough question.”

ALSO READ | Brisbane weather prediction for Day Five

“The Indian players have batted well. Obviously in Sydney, it was 130 (overs) or something, obviously it is a different wicket to that. But for us it is just being patient, not searching too much, bowling good areas and just letting it happen,” Smith said.

“I think the more you sort of go searching for on these kind of tracks, then you probably don’t get the reward. So, it is just about hitting good areas consistently and letting the natural variation of the wicket take its course,” he reiterated.

'Interesting final day'

India bowled Australia out for 294 on Day Four, with fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj (5 for 73) and Shardul Thakur (4 for 61) doing the bulk of the damage. “It is going to be an interesting final day and boys are excited about tomorrow,” Smith said.

Smith, who top-scored with a vital 55 in the second essay, evaded a question on whether Australia could have declared early. “It is hard to know obviously with the rain coming, we are certainly not weatherman and don’t know that it is coming, so you have to play the game as you sort of see it as well, so I don’t know,” he said.

ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma takes five catches in Brisbane, equals Indian record

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc looked uncomfortable with his hamstring, but Smith was confident that the 30-year-old would be good to go on Tuesday. “I am not sure (about it), to be honest with you. Like, I saw the same thing, walking back, (Mitchell) grabbing at his right hamstring. I’m sure he’ll get assessed by the medical staff and one thing I know about Mitchell is he’s tough and he’s played through some injuries before and got the job done, so he will be hopefully good to go tomorrow,” Smith said.

Smith also said the role of off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be crucial on Day Five. “There is nice little crack I think, forming outside the right-hander’s off-stump, he (Lyon) will probably be looking to sort of aim at...so I think if he hits good areas consistently tomorrow, there is certainly no reason why he can’t create some chances on Day Five,” the 31-year-old said.

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