Smith hopes for ‘bigger totals’ on fourth Test pitch

Stand-in Australia skipper Steve Smith said on Wednesday the pitch for the fourth Test looks good for batsmen and different from the usual day-one turners in the previous matches in India.
Australia will look to level the series at 2-2 in the final Test starting today in Ahmedabad after they bounced back from two losses to win the third Test on a viciously turning pitch.
“It’s just playing what’s in front of us really, obviously the scores haven’t been big throughout this whole series. India scored 400 in that first Test match and Rohit got 100 and 400 proved to be way too many,” Smith told reporters.
“This wicket may be a little bit different. Perhaps it may not spin as much from the first ball or the first day but I do think it will spin as the game goes on. So yeah, there might be opportunities for bigger totals on this wicket.”
Smith was unsure of which pitch the crunch final Test would be played after the curators kept two tracks covered at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.
But doubts for the visitors cleared as the day progressed on a hot afternoon in Ahmedabad.
“Yeah rocked up today and there was only one covered so yeah looks like they have chosen,” said Smith.
“Looks like probably of the four wickets we’ve seen so far, potentially the flattest on day one. Having said that, it’s I think 38 degrees out there at the moment, it’s pretty hot. Looks like it’ll dry out as the day goes on.”
The 33-year-old Smith, standing in as captain in place of Pat Cummins, had earlier said he could not recall ever having been in this situation so close to the start of a Test.
India have long been accused of preparing pitches to favour their spinners. The International Cricket Council ruled that the surface in the third Test in Indore – won by Australia – was “poor”.
The tourists switched to a spin-heavy team selection from the second Test in New Delhi and handed India a nine-wicket loss in Indore in just over two days.
Smith strongly hinted that Australia would play the spin trio of Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy again, praising the “variation” that each has been able to produce.
Lyon, an off-spinner, took eight wickets to dismiss India for 163 in their second innings on a pitch that turned from day one in the third Test. Newcomer Murphy has been economical and got Virat Kohli out three times.
“(We have) had faith in what we’re trying to do and it’s good that we are able to show that we can play with three spinners and win,” Smith said.
“They are all different and all have good knowledge of the game (and a) good understanding of what they are trying to do. It’s been great to be able to play spinners and show that we can do it effectively.”
Victory in the third Test was only Australia’s second in India since 2004 and Smith believes another to level the series would be an ideal finish.
“For any touring team to come here and win two Test matches will be a huge achievement,” said Smith.
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to do it earlier in the series to give ourselves a chance to win.”

India skipper Rohit hits back at criticism
Rohit Sharma yesterday angrily dismissed suggestions his India side had become overconfident, calling the criticism from former head coach Ravi Shastri “absolutely rubbish”.
Shastri accused the team of “a little complacency, a little bit of overconfidence”.
Skipper Rohit hit back, saying: “Honestly, when you win two games and people on the outside feel that we are overconfident, it’s absolutely rubbish, because you want to do your best in all four games.”
He called his side “ruthless” more than arrogant. “Ravi himself has been in this dressing room, he knows what sort of mindset we have,” said Rohit.
India lost the previous match by nine wickets on a viciously turning pitch at Indore, but the track at the world’s biggest cricket stadium is expected to give the batsmen some respite.
Rohit though has had enough of the talk about pitches.
“How challenging the pitches are? How much is it turning? How much is it seaming? We are trying to keep all of that away,” said Rohit.