Australia batter Steve Smith is fully ready for the Test series against India. Speaking after Australia’s win against Pakistan in the 1st ODI match, Steve Smith revealed that he was raring to go and if allowed could play a Test match tomorrow. Senior Australia batter Steve Smith has said that he is fully ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Steve Smith has said that he is in good form and has sorted out his technical issues.
Australia premier batter Steve Smith is all set for the India challenge after the Asian Giants’ three-match Test series to New Zealand at home. The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy is going to be crucial for both India and Australia in a bid to qualify for the World Test Championship Final next year. Rohit Sharma and Co will travel to Australia with some added pressure after getting whitewashed by New Zealand at home.
Steve Smith’s terrific record vs India and current form
One of the greatest Test batters in the modern generation, Steve Smith has over 2000 runs against India. The batter has a terrific average of 65.87 from 19 matches. Steve Smith will be expected to continue his dominance against the Indian team. The batter scored 313 in the last BGT that was held in Australia back in 2020/21. Australia lost that Test series 2-1 after the Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team pulled off a sensational win in Brisbane on the final day of the tour.
The veteran batter has scored 2042 runs in 19 Tests at an astonishing average of 65.87, which included 9 centuries. Steve Smith asserted that he is ready to go out and play a Test match tomorrow without any doubt.
The former Australia captain scored 44 runs off 46 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Steve Smith has been among the talking points recently in Test cricket after claiming the opener’s spot in the absence of David Warner. After not having prolific results in the series against West Indies, Steve Smith ended the experiment and decided to drop down to his original No.4 position. The batter’s form will be key for Australia as they push to qualify for the WTC Final, set to be hosted at Lord’s next year.
Australia have not won a Test series against India in the past decade, which includes two series losses Down under. Since winning the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar 2-0, Australia have lost the next four series against India — two to Virat Kohli’s side (2016-17, 2018-19), Ajinkya Rahane (2021) and Rohit Sharma (2023).
Steve Smith, who enjoys batting against India, said his preparation has been terrific for the mega five-match series.
Steve Smith fully prepared for BGT 2024-25 Test series vs India
Star Australian batter Steve Smith has suggested that he is ready for the Test series against India and is ready to play a red-ball game even tomorrow if contested. The 35-year-old reflected that he had a good week of training and came early to hit some balls ahead of the first ODI against Pakistan in Melbourne.
With the high-voltage five-Test series set to begin on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the veteran batter’s role will be critical as Australia hope to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The hosts are under pressure as India have won in Australia on the last two occasions.
Speaking to SEN Radio following the first ODI against Pakistan, Smith stated (via India Today):
“I’m ready. I’m ready now. Yeah, I could go out and play a Test match tomorrow, so I feel like I’m in a good place. I’ve had a really good week of training, came down here early and had a few hits. And I was just trying to get a few things right that I felt like I didn’t quite have in sync. And it all just clicked. And I feel like I’m in a good place now.”
The New South Wales cricketer scored a crucial 44 in a low-scoring thriller against Pakistan in the first of the three ODIs in Melbourne on Monday (November 4). With Australia chasing 204, the tourists had them 139/6 at one stage but Pat Cummins steered them home with two wickets to spare.
“I feel like I’m in a nice place and moving really well” – Steve Smith
Steve Smith further stated that he was happy with how things went in the first ODI but was keen to make it a big one. He added:
“My last week in preparation has been really good. I feel like I’m in a nice place and moving really well, I’m really balanced at the crease, and I feel like my bat’s coming down a nice plane. So I was happy with the way about it tonight. It would be nice to have been out there a little bit longer.”
Australia and Pakistan will square off in the second ODI on Friday (November 8) in Melbourne. The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test–a day match–at Perth Stadium from November 22 to November 26, setting the tone for the series. The second Test, scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under the stadium’s lights.