Ravichandran Ashwin took Steve Smith out the side of the leg in the first session of the match to deliver a massive blow to Australia on Day 1 of Test 2 on Saturday.
R Ashwin stranded Smith by the side of the leg (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHT
- Ashwin took Steve Smith’s wicket in the first session of the second test on Boxing Day
- This is the first time that Smith went to zero in international cricket vs India
- Ashwin pocketed 3 wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah got 4 when India pitched Australia for 195
Former cricketer Michael Hussey admitted that Ravichandran Ashwin has some wood on Steve Smith after the India player fired the former Australia captain once again on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Saturday.
Ashwin sacked Smith for ducking on the side of the leg in the first session of the match to deliver a massive blow to the Australians. It was the first time that Smith had gone out without opening his account in international cricket against India.
“He (Ashwin) has some wood on Steve Smith and it bothers him. It was a strange shot from him, it seemed to have pricked him.
“It was almost as if he was giving reception practice. He was not the decisive Steve Smith that we are used to seeing against the spin. Obviously there is something insecure about him when he faces Ashwin,” Hussey told ESPNCricinfo.
Ashwin bagged 3 wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah had four when India defeated Australia 195 after the hosts chose to hit first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Hussey said Australia’s technique against Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s spinning pins could have been better.
“Australia’s technique against the spin is that a lot of them are pushing the ball hard and that brings the fielders closer to the leg side if there is any spin.
“He bounced and that was because he came in early. The ball was still hard and that’s what worries Australian hitters. There are also a lot of natural variations. It was a quality performance once again,” Hussey said.
India took the honors on day one as they finished 36-1 in response to Australia’s first inning total. Shubman Gill (28 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (7 *) will resume innings on Day 2 with India trailing the hosts by 159 runs with 9 wickets in hand.
