Steve Smith: We're under no illusions, India tour is going to be tough

Following Australia’s sensational 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan, Steve Smith will now have to switch his focus to the difficult challenges confronting him and his new refurbished team in India from February. Despite their clinical performance in the Test series against Pakistan, India will be an all new challenge for Smith & his young brigade.

Australia crushed Pakistan by 220 runs on the final day of the final test in Sydney to clinch the series 3-0. The win also meant Australia inflicted 12 straight defeats over Pakistan in Australia, stretching back to 1999. Ever since their crushing loss at Hobart Australia have looked a totally different team with the inclusion of newcomers like Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb who have performed very well in the limited opportunities they have got so far. But their real test awaits in India from February when they will compete in a 4 match Test series against the World No.1.

Smith stated that having a new team means they won’t have to deal with the mental scars they went through in the previous tours of India. They haven’t won a Test in the country since 2004 and given the red hot form Kohli & his boys have been in, it won’t be a surprise if the wait continues for Smith & Co.

“It helps in a way (with the new guys), but the guys also haven’t experienced the conditions as well which is going to be a tough one too,” Smith told reporters after the Sydney Test win.

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“It’s a completely different place to play, playing on those wickets is nothing like playing here in Australia. Guys will have to adapt quickly and find a way to be successful in those conditions.”

Smith who was a member of the Australia squad that was whitewashed 4-0 on their previous tour to India in 2013 expected testing times ahead. “It’s going to be a very difficult series going over there. We’re under no illusions it’s going to be tough. We’re going to have to play some very good cricket if we want to compete over there. It’s going to be a great challenge and learning curve for this group,” Smith was quoted as saying by the HINDU.

Smith said he expects the core of the current team to play in India. “A few of us have been there before and we know it’s difficult to play in their own backyard. They’re a very good team,” he said.

“There’s obviously going to be a few people added to the squad. We’re going to have to play incredibly well over there.”

Smith said that the fortunes of the team changed following their crushing innings and 80 runs defeat to South Africa at Hobart. Wholesale changes were made ahead of the final Test which paid rich dividends for Australia.

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“It was pretty tough times to be honest. You lose your first two Tests of an Australian summer and you are not in a good place,” Smith said.

“It wasn’t great times but I’m really proud of the way the guys have come in and turned it around since then. I think it was when we all got together as a group and trained for the first time in Adelaide.

“Straight away I felt a shift in attitude and energy and enthusiasm amongst the group and we were able to put all of that out in the middle and get the performance we were after.”

While Matt Renshaw scored a magnificent 184 in the 1st innings of the Sydney Test against Pakistan, Peter Handscomb finished the 3 match series with two centuries to his name and a staggering average of 114.

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