Momentum is probably with us at the moment: Steve Smith

Visiting captain Steve Smith has said that India’s inability to bowl Australia out on the final day of the third Test will hurt the hosts and the momentum thus will be with Australia when they go into the series-deciding final Test in Dharamsala.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Aussie skipper said that the Indian team will be hurting a little bit after the penultimate Test ended in a draw.

“If there’s anything called momentum in cricket it’s probably with us at the moment. India coming today (Monday) would have expected to bowl us out. I’m sure they’re hurting a little bit,” Australia captain Smith said at the post-match press conference.

Peter Handscomb scored an unbeaten 72 accompanied by Shaun Marsh who made 53 as the duo put on a match saving fifth wicket partnership of 124 runs to bail Australia out in little less than four hours to force a draw.

“I’m very proud. They had magnificent plans. They backed their defence for a long period of time and to see the game out for as long as they did, it was an outstanding performance,” Smith said.

“I’m really proud of the way they did that. That’s one of the things we’ve been talking about — being resilient and sticking out the touch times. The way Petey (Handscomb) and Shaun Marsh) did that was absolutely magnificent,” he said.

With all of their batsmen in form, Smith said, “It’s great signs for us that everyone is contributing.”

But he also felt that they were some 100 runs short in the first innings, with spinner Ravindra Jadeja making the difference with his five for 124-run spell.

“Everyone is in good form, we’ve have a good three Test matches but to be honest we probably left ourselves 100 runs short in the first innings. We probably should have got ourselves 550 and been able to get in front of the game from there. Things could have ended a bit differently.” he said.