Skipper Smith warns players India will ‘come back hard’

Australia skipper Steve Smith has warned his players against complacency and expects India to come back hard after the hosts’ crushing first Test defeat in Pune.
The tourists on Saturday demolished India by 333 runs inside three days to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series with left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe the unlikely hero.
O’Keefe claimed a match haul of 12 wickets to help skittle out India for 105 and 107.
Set a world-record fourth innings target of 441, the world’s number one Test side folded in just over a session to enable Australia register their first win in India since 2004.
Second-ranked Australia also ended India’s unbeaten streak of 19 Tests stretching back to August 2015, but Smith still believes the tourists have a long way to go to secure the four-match series.
“It’s certainly going to be a difficult next three Test matches. India are a quality side in their own backyard and they are going to come back hard at us,” said Smith.
“For us it’s continuing to worry about the processes and if we do that for long periods hopefully we can have more success on this tour.”
Smith expressed satisfaction with his team’s ability to learn from past mistakes after coming into the series on the back of nine Test losses in Asia.
“We probably kept the foot on the throat (in Pune).When we got ourselves in the positions to win in Sri Lanka, we let the opposition get back into the game,” said Smith, whose side were whitewashed by Sri Lanka 3-0 last year.
“In this Test, we didn’t let India back in the game after the first innings. So that it’s pleasing we’re learning and trying to improve in different ways,” he said.
Australian batsmen also stood up to India’s spin threat on a viciously turning track.
Matt Renshaw’s 68 and Michell Starc’s 61 showed grit in the first innings of 260 and Smith led by example with 109, his first century in India, to guide the second innings to 285.
“We know as batters the longer you are out in the middle, things get easier.
“The plans the guys had in this Test match were really good and I hope we keep them going,” said Smith.
India skipper Virat Kohli also vowed to bounce back as the teams head to Bangalore for the second Test starting March 4.
“We just want to take the learnings forward, improve and come back stronger in the next game,” said Kohli after the bruising loss.
“I can assure you that we are going to come back with more intent for sure and put Australia under pressure straight from ball one,” he said.

Smith retains top spot in ICC rankings
Australia captain Steve Smith has consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen following his outstanding batting effort in the opening Test against India.
Smith scored 109 during Australia’s second innings to help his team win by 333 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The 27-year-old right-hander reached a career-high 939 rating points which is the sixth best ever after Don Bradman (961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs and Ricky Ponting (both 942) and Peter May (941).
Gary Sobers, Viv Richards and Kumar Sangakkara all had career-high ranking points of 938, the ICC announced yesterday.
Smith, who scored 27 and 109 in Pune to gain six points, now leads Indian captain Virat Kohli by 66 points while England batsman Joe Root is 91 points behind him at third place with 848 points.
Australian opener Matt Renshaw has moved up 18 places to a career-best 34th position.