Perth, Nov 19: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is just around the corner, and all eyes are on the intriguing contest between two modern-day greats—India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Australia’s Steve Smith. The rivalry between Ashwin, the master spinner with 536 Test wickets, and Smith, one of the finest batters of this generation, promises to be a defining feature of the series.
Ashwin, known for his cerebral approach to the game, recently declared that he has “worked Steve Smith out” after early struggles in their encounters. Speaking to Channel 7, Ashwin expressed confidence in his ability to dominate Smith. “Several times much later, when I think I’ve kind of figured out what he does or how he bats, I’ve had an edge over him. I’ve had the wood over him,” he said.
Smith, however, remains unfazed by Ashwin’s confidence. Responding to the off-spinner’s remarks, Smith emphasized the importance of being proactive. “I don’t like getting out to off-spin in Australia. I feel as though it should be, particularly for a right-handed batter, relatively easy to face. But he’s also a very good bowler and came in with some decent plans,” Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Their recent encounters highlight how this rivalry has evolved. During the 2020-21 series, Ashwin dismissed Smith three times for just 64 runs. In the 2023 series in India, Ashwin got the better of Smith twice, restricting him to just 22 runs. However, Smith showcased his class at the SCG during the 2020-21 series, scoring 131 and 81 by adopting a more aggressive approach against the spinner. “That’s key for me—just be proactive against him and not let him settle and bowl the way he wants to,” Smith explained.
Smith also acknowledged the mental aspect of their rivalry. “When you have five matches, if someone gets on top of another player, they could have 10 innings against them. So you’re facing those mental challenges each game, and if it goes one way early, they will feel under pressure,” he remarked, underscoring the significance of starting strong in a long series.
While Ashwin’s Test bowling average of 42.15 in Australia might give Smith a psychological edge, the Indian spinner’s recent success against him suggests a thrilling battle ahead. With both players relishing the challenge, their face-off is poised to be one of the marquee contests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As the series begins, cricket fans around the world eagerly await this high-stakes duel between bat and ball.