Sachin Tendulkar explains how Ashwin has got upper hand against Steve Smith

One of the main factors why team India have been able to restrain Australia is because of the struggles of Steve Smith. The ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade has had a bleak time in the middle as he has struggled to score runs in the two Tests played so far. Smith has managed to score only 10 runs in 4 innings as the batting unit has failed to put up decent targets.

Much of Smith’s failure can be credited to Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner has spun a web around Smith in the Test series so far as he has dismissed him twice while continuously troubling him with his variations.

India’s cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar also spoke about the battle between the two and elucidated how the 32-year-old spinner has gained an upper hand in the contest.

“In the first Test, Smith got out to an arm ball or you can call it a straighter which Ashwin releases differently. An off-spinner bowls a straighter which skids off the surface when fingers are not on top of the ball,” Tendulkar told PTI.

Indian cricket legend also explained how Ashwin has got the ball to bounce and turn in Australia.

“In the second Test, it was not a slider but fingers were on top of the ball which produced bounce and turn.

“Steve Smith played a normal flick to a regulation off-break that any batsman does by instinct and fielder was brilliantly placed there.

“It was a well-planned ball and wicket by Ashwin. Both are class players, so someone is going to have a better day and so far, Ashwin has come out winner in first two Tests.”

Steve Smith himself has talked about the battle. Smith bemoaned his failure to score runs in the series and also admitted that he has let off-spinner dictate terms in the series.

“I probably haven’t played Ashwin as well as I would’ve liked. I probably would’ve liked to have put him under a bit more pressure,” Smith told SEN Radio.

“I’ve sort of let him dictate terms and that’s something I’ve probably never let any spinner do in my career. I’ve sort of taken it to them, been a bit more aggressive, and made them change things,” he said.

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