Indian spinner R. Ashwin is looking forward to his battle with Australian batting star Steve Smith. Both players have been a part of some legendary battles where they have had the measure over each other. Ashwin is on his last tour of Australia and will want to do well and sign off with a series win.
Speaking to 7 Cricket about the rivalry with Smith, India’s spin ace Ashwin said, “I've sort of let him dictate terms, and that's something I've probably never let any spinner do in my career”. Ashwin had dismissed Smith twice in Adelaide and Melbourne before the Aussie batter got the better of India’s ace spinner.
Fascinating to hear Ashwin talk about the battle he has with Steve Smith 🍿 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gn0emBtCSR
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 13, 2024
Apart from being on the opposite sides of the battle line, Ashwin and Smith have also shared the dressing rooms. Both the players were part of the Rising Pune Super Giants and Delhi Capitals dugouts in the IPL.
R. Ashwin looking forward to battles with Steve Smith
Further, during his chat with 7 Cricket, R. Ashwin said, “Steve Smith is someone that’s fascinating as a player against spin especially. He has his own unique technique, even playing fast bowling. But with spin I think he came in with sound game plans, sound preparations and yeah, he used to execute it come what may. And over the years I’ve found ways and means to be able to break it down.”
So far Ashwin has dismissed Steve Smith 8 times in Test cricket which is the most by any Indian bowler. 5 of those dismissals have been caught with two dismissals being LBW and once taking a return catch. Ashwin is the joint second most successful bowler against Steve Smith along with James Anderson and Ravindra with 8 dismissals each.
Ashwin also added, “His time at Delhi Capitals, his time at Rising Pune Supergiants, all these net sessions that I’ve seen him go about his business really gave me an insight as to how he prepares and what he likes and what he doesn’t like.”
“He’s a very thinking cricketer as well. He wants to get one up on you all the time. But he’s got very unique ways of practising and unique ways of battling out with you in the middle,” added 38-year-old R. Ashwin.
Indian spin legend ended by saying, “And sometimes as a bowler when you’re watching a batter go through his process you do identify whether you have him or not. And several times in these years of having played with Steve Smith I’ve felt that he has me. But several times much later when I think I’ve kind of figured out what he does or how he bats, I’ve had an edge over him. I’ve had the wood over him.”