Another 50 runs would be a good total: Steven Smith

FILE PHOTO: Steven Smith was the second highest scorer in the 1st innings so far with 46.

New Delhi - After losing eight wickets for 231 runs on the first day of the fourth Test against India on Friday, Australia all-rounder Steven Smith said that another 50 runs would be a good enough first innings total here at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

“Given the situation, we have to defend whatever we make but if we could grind another 50 runs, I think that would be a good enough first innings total. It is not a Day 1 wicket and it will get tougher to bat as the match progresses. It gets even more difficult if you are not used to these wickets and conditions,” said Smith, who made the second highest score of the day with 46, at the post-match press conference.

“We all tried our best and tried sticking to our game plan but sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. It was easier to bat when the ball was new and it gets better if you face more number of deliveries. So we just tried doing that.”

The 23-year-old praised the Indian bowlers, especially the spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up six wickets together while Pragyan Ojha remained wicket-less. Pacer Ishant Sharma clinched the other two.

“The Indian spinners bowled in the right areas and with a good field setting.”

“Every time we play for Australia we want to perform well and do better whether (it’s) a dead rubber or not. So, the attitude never changes,” he added.

Offie Ashwin on the other hand acknowledged that Australia have a good batting lower order which is why India could not wrap up the innings.

After being 189/8, the Australian lower order defied the Indian bowling with the ninth-wicket pair adding an unbeaten 42 runs.

“They batted pretty well, which is why we could not wrap it up. We did not have a problem as such. When you have batsmen who average 30 in the lower order you can’t expect them to throw away their wickets. That’s about it,” Ashwin told reporters.