Steve Smith keen to win a Test series on Indian soil

Smith acknowledged that India is one of the toughest places to play Test cricket.

By Salman Anjum - 08 Apr, 2020

Australia batsman Steve Smith on Tuesday (April 7) expressed his keenness to win a Test series on Indian soil.

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Speaking to Ish Sodhi during a podcast organised by IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, Smith acknowledged that India is one of the toughest places to play Test cricket and a series victory there will be an ultimate accomplishment.

"I would love to win a Test series in India," the world’s No. 1 Test batsman said.

"I think as an Australian cricketer, we talk about like Ashes is always big, World Cup is big but I think now India is No. 1 team in the world and it is a very difficult place to play Test cricket, so I would love to win a series there," he added.

Talking about his other goals, Smith said: "Other then that, I would not like to set too many goals, but take things day by day, series by series, just try to improve.

"It has been a pretty long year with the World Cup and Ashes, a few away one-day (ODI) tours. So this rest is not the worst thing but hopefully it is for a few weeks. I am pretty keen to get back to playing."

Smith also showered rich praise on India's spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, describing him as a difficult bowler to face in the subcontinent.

"Jadeja in the sub-continent... why he is so good because, he hits that good length and one ball skids on and one spins, and it just all looks same out of the hand. I think consistency in length is key and then having at least one variation," he said.

"So I think for a leg-spinner, having a good googly or a slider is crucial and for fingers spinners, being able to change the pace without changing the arm-speed too much. I reckon there're a few around the world who do that, Jadeja is one of them. He is very difficult to play."

Smith got the Rajasthan Royals captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane midway through the last IPL season and he is keen to lead the franchise from the beginning if the T20 league, which has been postponed until April 15 due to COVID-19 outbreak, is held later this year.

"Plenty going on in the world at present, but hopefully we can get an IPL at some stage. The two seasons that I captained the Royals were both half seasons, Shane Watson gave me the captaincy in 2015 and then last year, out of the blue, I took over at the back end of the season. Looking at having a crack at it full time and the Royals have a pretty good squad," he stated.

(With PTI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 08 Apr, 2020

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