Australian batsman Steve Smith reckons that with the Gabba track starting to play a few tricks, staying patient would be imperative for his team’s bowlers when they defend an imposing 328 against a determined India on the last day of the fourth and final Test here.
India were 4/0 before the final session of the play was suspended early due to rain on the fourth day.
“I think the game is in a nice place for us. I think the wicket has started to play a few tricks today, couple of balls shot up,” Smith said at the virtual post-day press conference.
“So, tomorrow it is just going to be about bowling (in) good areas and letting the natural variation of the day five wicket sort of do its work and hopefully we can hold on to all the chances,” he added.
The rain factor is also going to be a crucial one on the final day but Smith would rather focus on controllables.
“Who knows? That is a tough question.”
He said the Australian bowlers should remain patient and not go searching for too much. “The Indian players have obviously batted well. Obviously in Sydney, it was 130 (overs) or something, obviously it is a different wicket to that. But for us it is just being patient, not searching too much, bowling good areas and just letting it happen,” the prolific batsman stressed.
“I think the more you sort of go searching for on these kind of tracks, then you probably don’t get the reward. So, it is just about hitting good areas consistently and letting the natural variation of the wicket take its course,” he reiterated.