Former Australia captain Michael Clarke on Saturday (November 28) advised the Indian bowlers to attack Steve Smith early in his innings else the star batsman will dig deep and play long innings in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

According to Clarke, even the best batsmen are vulnerable early on in their innings and India should look to exploit it against Smith.

Clarke also endorsed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s views on attacking Steve Smith on the fifth-stump line.

“I saw Sachin's comments and I agree with Sachin. The only variation to that is that I think every batsman is vulnerable in the first 20 balls even if it's Sachin Tendulkar, if it's Donald Bradman. The best chance you have is to get those batsmen out are those first 20 balls,” Clarke told India Today.

“I will be looking to get Smith out in those first 20 balls and I will be looking to bring in all the modes of dismissals -- LBW, bowled, caught at slip, caught behind. I would be attacking the stumps and bowl a good bouncer in the first 20 balls and after that I would stick to Sachin's plans. Bowl a good fifth stump line and wait for Steve smith to make that error,” he added.

Clarke feels combating Marnus Labuschagne will also be a big challenge for the visitors, considering the young batsman’s love for big knocks in Tests.

In 14 Tests so far, Labuschagne has amassed 1459 runs at an average of 63.43 with 4 centuries and 8 fifties.

“He (Labuschagne) knows how to bat for long periods of time. I think we are going to see a lot of Marnus in the Test matches. Willing to bat for long periods is his strength, he keeps it simple, doesn't do anything fancy. He has got great eyes, so picks up the ball early and his shot selection is good.

“How India bowl to him at the start of the innings is very important. They need to be disciplined, need to be well-researched, look at Marnus's game and see what he does early on in his innings,” Clarke remarked.