Australian captain Steve Smith is currently leading the side in the Test series in Bangladesh. Prior to the game, he shared his views on the inclusion of the young left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in the squad. There was a criticism of the selection committee due to the exclusion of Steven O’Keefe who did so well against India earlier this year.
But Smith backed Agar and reckons he has a bright future. He also expressed his desire to win in India during his tenure. Australia had lost 2-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2017 but Smith reckons winning in India is of prime importance in his career.
“He’s come a long way,” Smith said about Agar as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “For us, it’s more looking to the future. Ashton has obviously been on the radar for a long time and someone we see as having a pretty bright future. Four years’ time back in India it’s something I want to achieve while I’m captain. I want to win in India, that’s big on my bucket list.”
Another player who has been in Australia’s scheme of things for a long time is Usman Khawaja. He has been picked in the squad for several tours but was mostly found warming the benches. Smith reckons it’s time that he gets a regular chance in the team.
“Usman obviously hasn’t played any cricket since the Sydney Test match, that was his last game and that was a long time ago. We need to get him back into the fold and get him playing cricket again,” he added.
Learnt a lot in India
During the tour to India earlier this year, Australia presented a strong competition to the hosts. They were the only side that managed to win a Test match in India’s long home run. The charge was led by the skipper himself who batted beautifully throughout the series. Smith said he learnt a lot during his stay in India.
“Something I learned a lot about in India as a captain, in particular, was knowing the different tempos of the game and when to attack a little bit more. It’s been a good learning experience for me. I think the key to winning overseas is to ensure that you’re adapting consistently and putting those performances on the board consistently,” Steve Smith said.
