IND v AUS 2023: “You’re probably alluding…” Alex Carey responds to Allan Border's remark on Steve Smith's thumbs up gesture

Border was critical of Smith's "thumbs up" gesture to Jadeja after getting beaten on the outside edge.

Steve Smith giving thumbs up after facing a good ball | TwitterAustralian batting legend Allan Border was furious at the Pat Cummins-led side for not playing with a "harder edge" against India in the opening Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at VCA Stadium, Nagpur.

Border was particularly critical of Steve Smith's "thumbs up" gesture to Ravindra Jadeja after getting beaten on the outside edge.

“Play with a harder edge. I mean, we’re giving blokes the thumbs up when they’re beating us outside the off stump. What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous. Don’t go stupid, but Australia play hard nose cricket. We’re even giving someone thumbs up … bloody hell," Border had said during his interaction with Fox Cricket.

His comments came after Australia suffered a humiliating defeat by an innings and 132 runs in the first Test.

Ahead of the second Test, however, Allan Border has been served with a blunt reply by Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey.

See Also: Andrew McDonald expecting conditions to improve for Australia ahead of second Test

“We highly respect Allan Border,” Carey was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. “I guess among the group, guys do it differently. We come up against these players a lot.

"You’re probably alluding to the Steve Smith comment more than any but, you know, he’s mates with a lot of them. And that’s the way he [Smith] plays. He does it in all situations. He plays around with his hands and does all that stuff. And I think that’s probably what gets him pretty focused. They’re obviously strong comments but, as a group, we believe in what we’re doing and come the second Test we’re ready to put a few learnings into place.”

The second Test is scheduled to get underway on February 17 in Delhi.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 14 Feb, 2023

    Share Via