Australia's premier batsman Steve Smith said he has let Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin "dictate terms" against him in the Test series so far.
Smith, who is enduring a lean patch, has got out twice to Ashwin in the four times he has batted, including for nought in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test where India pulled off a mighty impressive eight-wicket win on Tuesday (December 29) and levelled the series 1-1.
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"I probably haven't played Ashwin as well as I would've liked. I probably would've liked to have put him under a bit more pressure," Smith told 'SEN Radio'.
"I've sort of let him dictate terms and that's something I've probably never let any spinner do in my career. I've sort of taken it to them, been a bit more aggressive and made them change things," he added.
Ashwin, who has arrived on his fourth Test tour of Australia a highly-improved bowler and has got Smith out on both edges, said he has planned thoroughly for the great right-hander considering his importance to Australia.
"Coming down to Australia and if you cannot get Steven Smith out, it is always going to be an uphill task," he told Channel 7. "He pretty much holds the batting line-up together."
Smith, on his part, said he is desperate for that elusive long innings and will be looking to finally stamp his authority in the New Year's Test.
"It's kind of a two-edged sword in a way, but I think I've just got to have the confidence to take it on and play my game," said the 31-year-old.
"At the moment I'm searching for time in the middle; that's the most important thing for me. When I look at this year, 64 balls is the longest I've spent in the middle, during those one-day games."
"For me, that's important. I find a lot of rhythm out in the middle. You can bat as much as you want in the nets but there's nothing that can replicate what a game can do, so that for me is what I'm searching for at the moment."
"That can be tough to do, particularly in a Test match when you've got some quality bowlers," Smith added.
(Inputs from PTI)
