Before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia’s premier batsman Steve Smith was expected to lead the hosts' batting with the mountains of scores but the Indian bowling attack has screwed up all the expectations so far with the “fantastic” plans, said Michael Hussey.
Smith was dismissed for just 1 by R Ashwin in the first innings while remained unbeaten for one in the second innings as Australia won the first Day-Night Test by 8-wickets at Adelaide Oval.
Well, the world’s third-ranked Test batsman’s struggle continued in the Boxing Day Test as well, as the veteran India spinner Ashwin yet again dismissed him for a duck in the first innings while he could manage only 8 runs in the second inning before being dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah in Melbourne.
Hussey, former Australian cricketer-turned-commentator, has pointed out that Smith being unable to score runs against India is a “huge blow” for the hosts and their chances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the four-match Test series being leveled at 1-1 presently.
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Praising India’s game plan against Smith, Hussey said the tourists are bowling straight, attacking the stumps, and setting a leg-side field for the right-hander to cut off scoring options so far in the series.
Hussey said in a video posted by ESPNCricinfo: “Steve Smith has not been able to get going in this series at all and it is a huge blow for Australia and their chances in this series. India has come to Australia with fantastic plans for Smith. India is attacking the stumps, bowling straight, setting the leg-side field to cut off scoring options and it is really working.”
He further added, “Last summer, the New Zealand team got Smith out a few times with the short ball. I have noticed, Bumrah in particular, he has been bowling short and pushing Steve Smith back and then attacking the stumps, looking for LBW or bowling him out.
So, big form worries for Steve Smith. He is a great player and we would expect him to work his way out of it.”
Apart from Smith, one major concern for Australia is Marnus Labuschagne's form and former Aussie batsman feels Team India is using the latter’s vulnerabilities to their advantage.
Hussey signed off by saying, “Marnus Labuschagne came with so much expectation into the series that he was going to have another prolific season, but unfortunately, it has not really worked out that way just yet.
Indians have got a really good plan for him and they know he is a little bit vulnerable for LBWs. So, they are bowling very straight to him and setting the leg-side field to cut off the run-scoring options and they are attacking the stumps all the time.”
(With ANI Inputs)
