On Wednesday, Australia’s stand-in captain, Steve Smith said that the pitch for the fourth and final Test match against India in Ahmedabad will be slightly different from the first three pitches. He said that there can be opportunities for high scores on this wicket. The fourth Test begins in Ahmedabad on Thursday, with the hosts aiming to secure their place in the ICC World Test Championship final with a win. Despite trailing 2-1 to India, Australia showed strong spirit in their first Test match win on Indian soil since 2017, registering a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over their rivals in Indore.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith is yet to pick his side for the fourth Test against India – as he faces a game of pitch roulette. @nickbutler10 #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/PiopPWk9Fe— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) March 8, 2023
The stand-in captain hopes that as the game progresses, the dry heat will break the pitch, giving the player turn. “Having said that, I think it’s 38 degrees outside at the moment, it’s very hot. It looks like it will dry out as the day progresses. A groundsman said they might water again today. So yeah, we’ll wait and see, but in terms of the day before, it certainly looks like it’s less likely than what we’ve seen so far.”
“It’s just playing what’s really in front of us, obviously the scores haven’t been big throughout this series,” Smith said. India scored 400 in that first Test and Rohit scored 100 and 400 is a lot. proved more. “We can only play what is in front of us and these are the kinds of wickets where you get past 200 even if it is a good total. We are not fussing or anything, we have never complained or lost wickets. Haven’t done anything about it.” We go out and play,” he said.
Smith anticipates that the fourth Test pitch, unlike the previous three where the ball turned quickly, could be the flattest track of the day.
Smith said he could not remember another instance where he was unsure of the pitch he would be playing on. Australia were unaware of which of the two pitches would be used for the final Test in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
,[There] something happens [pitches] It probably took a little over two days to get ready but I don’t remember two days,” Smith said.
“I didn’t go out and have a look in the afternoon but Alex Carey did. It looked completely different, much drier in the afternoon. It’s very hot, 37 degrees, which gives it a chance to dry out and I think the cover was on for a while today. So they’re potentially worried it’s drying out too much. It certainly changed in a few hours. Taking a look today we could potentially see that What is it going to do,” the 33-year-old added.
“It is strange with some of the commentary at home, people talking about us playing three pacers and one spinner. When we look at these surfaces and we see what we have, it’s mind boggling to me. Six days or so, and the spinners have taken most of the wickets and you see how difficult it is to play spin,” Smith said.
“It’s a bit strange to hear such commentary, but we believed in what we were trying to do and it’s good that we have been able to show that we can play with three spinners and win. We weren’t either. Even away in Delhi, outside at that point of madness. Good to know our plans and whatever we’re trying to do can work,” said Australia’s stand-in captain.
The series looks set to end with the fewest balls to spare in the four-match series, with three three-day Tests already completed, and the last one looking to be heading in that direction. Nevertheless, Smith argued that the groundskeeper had indicated that this play would continue longer than the previous one.
Smith took the opportunity to take a bit of a dig at some pundits who suggested that Australia should have selected three fast bowlers and one spinner to complement their pace bowling strength. It was this model that led to the 2004 series victory, but on very different surfaces.
“This wicket might be a little different. I just saw it. It might not spin much from the first ball or the first day, but I think it will spin as the game progresses. So yeah, this There can be opportunities for big totals on the wicket,” Smith said at the pre-match press conference in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
“Looks like probably the flattest wicket on day one of the four wickets we’ve seen so far,” Smith said.