3rd Test: Steve Smith hails ‘complete performance’ in Australia’s win over India | Cricket News – Times of India

Australia‘s emphatic nine-wicket win over India in the third Test at Indore‘s Holkar Stadium on Friday marks a remarkable turnaround for the visitors from their sorry defeats in the first two Tests of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the stand-in skipper Steve Smith called it a “complete performance”.
Smith led the side in the absence of Pat Cummins who went back home after the second Test to take care of his mother who is unwell.
Spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon starred for Austrlaia while Usman Khawaja made a fine 60 in the first innings to give the visitors an 88-run lead.

In chasing 76 to win on Friday, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne slammed unbeaten knocks of 49 and 28 respectively to complete a comprehensive nine-wicket victory as the Aussies qualified for the World Test Championship final as well as cut India’s lead in the series to 2-1.
“I think obviously that first day (was crucial), losing the toss and having to bowl first. But our bowlers did really well, especially Kuhnemann. All our bowlers contributed. With the bat, Usman was really good in the first innings,” said Smith at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“We had some good partnerships. India bowled really well in the back end; we had a bit of a collapse. We had to toil hard yesterday (Thursday). Pujji (Cheteshwar Pujara) played a good knock, but all our bowlers did really well. It was a complete performance in the end,” Smith added.
He further said that he enjoyed captaining Australia once again.
“We are thinking of Patty (Cummins) back home; our thoughts are with him. But I really enjoyed this week. I like captaining in this part of the world. I think I understand a lot of the intricacies.”

“It’s a place that I really enjoy and I think I did a reasonable job this week. The approach will be much the same (in the fourth Test). We have to see what the conditions are like. It’s good to be in the WTC final but it’s just about playing good cricket. Hopefully, we can finish the series well.”
(With agency inputs)