Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith has added that he and Ravichandran Ashwin have had some interesting battles over the years as he prepares for one in the upcoming Test series against Team India as well. Smith also shared that a batter can be found out against a bowler in a five-match Test series, given the possibility of 10 innings as well.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Smith said: “When you have five matches, if someone gets on top of another player, they could have 10 innings against them. So you’re facing those mental challenges each game, and if it goes one way early, they will feel under pressure against that player. There’s nowhere to hide in five games like there are in a two-game series. Ashwin and I have had some good battles over the years.”

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“Ashwin nicked me off in the first innings in Adelaide and then got me at leg slip at the MCG on a tacky wicket. I don’t like getting out to off-spin in Australia. I feel as though it should be, particularly for a right-handed batter, relatively easy to face. But he’s also a very good bowler and he came in with some decent plans. There were a couple of occasions where he got on top of me, then I got on top of him at the SCG when I was a bit more proactive. So that’s key for me. Just be proactive against him and not let him settle and bowl the way he wants to,” he further added.

However, Steve Smith again shared that he needs to start the summer well and not overthink things when he is in the middle.

“It always makes your summer better when you start well. It gives you a lot of confidence. It’d be nice to be able to hit the ground running with some runs in the first game and help the team win.”It’s about not overthinking things. It’s playing each ball as it comes and keeping it simple. When I’m playing my best, I’m not overthinking and I’m just playing what’s in front of me. It’s going to be a good battle,” Steve Smith concluded.