We need to rectify our regular batting collapses: Steve Smith

Australia defeated Bangladesh in the second and final Test match by 7 wickets in Chittagong thanks to Nathan Lyon’s 13/154. The off-spinner spun a web around the Bangladesh batsmen and bowled magnificently to return with the record match figures. Smith was particularly critical of the batting collapses his side suffered and stressed on the need to rectify it soon.

The team from down under was in command going into the fourth day with a 72-run lead. Shakib Al Hasan & Co. strangled down the hosts in the second innings as well and bundled them out for a paltry 157. Then they gunned down the tiny 86-run target set ahead of them with 7 wickets to spare. Lyon was named Man of the Match whereas the vice-captain of the side David Warner was adjudged Man of the series for scoring two centuries in consecutive innings.

We could have taken a bigger lead

Steve Smith was visibly pleased after the series levelling victory and was all praise for his team, especially Nathan Lyon. “I thought we played some good cricket at times in this Test match. The first innings, our bowling to restrict them to what we did was a real good effort. Lyon took 22 wickets in this series and that’s incredible, it was a good wicket and there wasn’t much for him. We could have taken a bigger lead in the first innings but credit to Bangladesh, they really made us fight in this series,” the skipper said.

However, he was critical of the regular batting collapses and stressed on the need to rectify it ahead of an all important Ashes series. “For us, the batting collapses have become a regular occurrence and it is something we need to rectify. We get ourselves in good positions and cannot go on with it. It is nice to get to a 1-1 draw. The conditions here are a bit different to what we are going to get back home; we know the conditions back home for the Ashes pretty well,” he added.

The 28-year-old lauded the performance of his bowlers and Warner for holding their heads high after the first game. “Pat Cummins cranked it up today which is a great sign for us. Davey Warner was exceptional in the second innings in Dhaka and out here as well. Handscomb too was excellent too and that partnership set up the game for us,” he signed off with a smile on his face.