Steve Smith urges his team to change their approach in India, wants David Warner to emulate Karun Nair

After whitewashing Pakistan 3-0 in the recently concluded Test series, the Steve Smith led Aussies will be high on confidence going into the tour of India where they will travel as the 2nd ranked side in the world. Apart from the series victory against Pakistan, Australia was pretty ordinary in 2016 and lost five consecutive Tests in the process. While they were whitewashed 3-0 by Sri Lanka away from home, they were humbled 2-1 by the mighty Proteas in their own den. The series victory also ensured South Africa won their 3rd consecutive Test series in Australia.

Australia hasn’t won a Test series in Asia for the last 6 years and their worries seem to increase with each passing day as they don’t have enough quality batsmen to defy quality spinners especially in spin-friendly conditions. At times they have been over defensive, and at times they have tried to play over aggressively which has brought about their downfall. Captain Steve Smith though is optimistic about Australia’s chances in the upcoming series and highlighted few things which his team should do in order to compete in India.

In an exclusive chat with ESPN Cricinfo Smith spoke highly about David Warner who bagged the Allan Border medal for the 2nd consecutive time today. He wants Warner to convert his centuries into a big double or a triple just like Karun Nair did against England very recently. “If he gets to a hundred it might be about knuckling down again and going big, get 200 or 300, like Karun Nair did a few weeks ago,” Smith said.

Smith has urged his boy to change their approach while playing against India. Singling out David Warner who is the vice-captain of the team, Smith said he don’t want Warner to curb his natural instinct in the upcoming series and his free-flowing batting style will hold key if Australia has to upstage a resurgent Team India under the leadership of Virat Kohli. “Those are the big scores that set your team up, so we are just being hungry and willing to keep going and not let up. I think we’ve been guilty in the past of saying ‘a ball’s going to have your name on it, so get them before one gets you,” he added.

Also read: David Warner wins the Allan Border medal for the 2nd consecutive year

The 4 match Test series undergoes in Pune from February 23 and it will be the first time that Pune will be hosting a Test match.