Michael Clarke Explains What India Need To Do To Stop Steve Smith

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has said it’s important for India to attack Steve Smith early and not let him settle down in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series. Michael Clarke’s comment came a day after Smith starred in Australia’s win over India in the first ODI.

The former Australia skipper scored his fastest ODI ton, reaching the landmark in just 62 deliveries as the hosts thrashed India by 66 runs to take the lead in the three-match series. Apart from Smith, Aaron Finch scored a century too as Australia piled up 374 for 6 before restricting India to 308 for 8.

Smith has set the tone for the rest of the summer and India will have to come up with a solid plan to stop him especially in the Test series. And Michael Clarke believes one of the solutions is to not let the world number one Test batsman settle down. He also said said he agrees with Sachin Tendulkar’s views on attacking Smith on the fifth-stump line.

“I saw Sachin’s comments and I agree with Sachin. The only variation to that is that I think every batsman is vulnerable in the first 20 balls even if it’s Sachin Tendulkar, if it’s Donald Bradman. The best chance you have is to get those batsmen out are those first 20 balls,” Michael Clarke told India Today.

“I will be looking to get Smith out in those first 20 balls and I will be looking to bring in all the modes of dismissals — LBW, bowled, caught at slip, caught behind. I would be attacking the stumps and bowl a good bouncer in the first 20 balls and after that I would stick to Sachin’s plans. Bowl a good fifth stump line and wait for Steve smith to make that error,” he added.

Smith has a stunning record in Tests against India. He averages 84 in the ten matches he has played against India scoring 1429 runs with the help of seven centuries and three fifties.

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