Australia batsman Steve Smith urged the team’s fast bowlers to be patient on day 5 of the ongoing 4th Test against India, given that the pitch has started to assist them. India requires 324 more runs to win the match and the series, or a draw would help them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
But Australia needs to win the Test match in order to not only win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also crucial points in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.
“I think the game is in a nice place for us. I think the wicket has started to play a few tricks today, a couple of balls shot up," Smith said at the virtual post-day press conference, facilitated by official broadcasters Sony Networks.
"So, tomorrow it is just going to be about bowling (in) good areas and letting the natural variation of the day five wicket sort of doing its work, and hopefully we can hold on to all the chances," he added.
He urged the Australian bowlers to show patience and let the pitch do the rest.
"The Indian players have obviously batted well. Obviously in Sydney, it was 130 (overs) or something, obviously, it is a different wicket to that. But for us it is just being patient, not searching too much, bowling good areas, and just letting it happen," the prolific batsman stressed.
"I think the more you sort of go searching for on this kind of tracks, then you probably don't get the reward. So, it is just about hitting good areas consistently and letting the natural variation of the wicket take its course," he reiterated.
Australia was bundled out for 294 runs after India had conceded a lead of 33. For India, pacers Mohammed Siraj (5/73) and Shardul Thakur (4/61) did the most damage.
“It is going to be an interesting final day and boys are excited about tomorrow. it is hard to know obviously with the rain coming, we are certainly not weatherman and don't know that it is coming, so you have to play the game as you sort of see it as well, so I don't know," he said.
Smith also gave an update on Mitchell Starc, who was seen grabbing his hamstring and said, “I am not sure (about it), to be honest with you. Like, I saw the same thing, walking back, (Mitchell) grabbing at his right hamstring. I'm sure he'll get assessed by the medical staff and one thing I know about Mitchell is he's tough and he's played through some injuries before and got the job done, so he will be hopefully good to go tomorrow.”
However, speaking of the most crucial bowler on day 5, Smith named Nathan Lyon, who needs three more wickets to complete 400 wickets in Tests.
"...there is nice little crack I think, forming outside the right-hander's off-stump, he (Lyon) will probably be looking to sort of aim at...so I think if he hits good areas consistently tomorrow, there is certainly no reason why he can't create some chances on day five," the 31-year-old said.
(PTI inputs)
