Australian batsman Steve Smith last week challenged the Indian pacers to come hard at him trying to bounce him out. His belief regarding that is the bowlers have to put a lot of effort while bowling bumpers and if the Indian pacers keep bowling short balls to Smith, the Australian team will get benefited by it.

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was an excellent player of the short ball, opined that not even the greatest batsmen are fully ready to play bouncers.

AUS v IND 2020-21: McDonald plays down suggestions of short-ball worrying Steve Smith

Gavaskar told Sportstar, "No one is ever ready for the short ball! A good short ball will trouble the best of batsmen. Nobody can say ‘I’m ready'."

The 71-year-old also picked the most dangerous Indian bowler who can threaten the Aussies with his lethal bouncers. He believes that Mohammad Shami can shoot bumpers with accuracy and the height from which he bowls makes it even tougher for a batsman to fend it off.

He said, "Mohammad Shami in particular has a fabulous bouncer. If he gets it right on target, then you can be pretty certain that not too any batsmen will be able to negotiate him."

"He is not very tall and his short ball will come skidding at you around your shoulder and head, and that’s the most difficult delivery to play. If his rhythm is right, he will not be an easy bowler to play,” Gavaskar added.

Earlier, the assistant coach of the Australian cricket team, Andrew McDonald also said it out in the open that Steve Smith won't be affected by a barrage of short balls.

(With inputs from Sportstar)