Winning in India bigger than Ashes – Steve Smith

Cricket News: Winning in India bigger than Ashes – Steve Smith | Steve Smith & David Warner discuss challenge of India tour

Top Australian players including Steven Smith and David Warner consider a prospective win the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India to be a bigger achievement than emerging victorious in the Ashes.

“It [India] is a difficult place to win a Test match let alone a series. So if we are able to do that, it would be huge. I think if you win in India, it is bigger than an Ashes series [win],” Smith told cricket.com.au, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

With three centuries and a half-century going with an average of 60 in six Tests in India, Smith is certainly the most profoundly poised Australian batsman to tackle the playing conditions for this series.

David Warner, who has toured India for Tests twice previously, echoes similar viewpoints. The southpaw has an average of 24.25 and hasn’t notched a ton in the 16 innings he has played in India. The Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has managed to outmanoeuvre him in the previous two tours. Warner battled indifferent form for the better part of the last year before regaining some touch back by scoring a double-century in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

However, even Warner asserts that the touring contingent have their task cut out against a skilful spin attack.

“Being a part of the last Ashes was fantastic but to go to India and beat India in India is the toughest challenge in Test cricket for us. I’m looking forward to the tour, it’s always a hard graft. One thing that I’m looking forward to is applying myself against the best spinners in the world,” Warner explained.

Skipper Pat Cummins went a step ahead by mentioning that winning a Test series on the Indian soil will be a ‘career highlight’ altogether. The first game of the series will begin at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur on February 9.