"Spends more time on pitch while analyzing it, rather than playing on it" - Fans react as Steve Smith gets out for duck in 2nd IND vs AUS Test

Steve Smith didn't trouble the scorers as he got out for a second-ball duck in the second Test between India and Australia in Delhi that got underway on Friday, February 17.

After a 41-run partnership between Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, Ravichandran Ashwin did the trick for the home side by dismissing Labuschagne (18). Two balls later, he got the better of Smith with a delivery that went straight with the arm.

The former Aussie skipper played for the turn but the ball held his line and got a fine edge. The ball stayed low but KS Bharat did a fine job of catching it with both hands. The right-handed batter knew immediately that he had hit the ball and started to walk back to the dressing room. This was his first duck on Indian soil in 15 innings.

Fans came up with some hilarious reactions as the batter got out for a duck. While many lauded Ashwin for his mastery, a few reckoned that the World No. 2 spends more time analyzing the pitch rather than playing on it.

Here are some of the reactions:

Manya

@CSKian716

Allan Border is wondering how did Steve Smith get out when he didn't give a thumbs up in this innings.

4

1

Allan Border is wondering how did Steve Smith get out when he didn't give a thumbs up in this innings.

Chetan Narula

@chetannarula

That Steve Smith two-ball duck could be the difference between a 3-day and 4-day finish here. #IndvAus

That Steve Smith two-ball duck could be the difference between a 3-day and 4-day finish here. #IndvAus

Abijit Ganguly

@AbijitG

Feel bad for Steve Smith. Was facing Ashwin but seeing Border's face sternly asking him to control any of his natural urges. How's the man supposed to concentrate?

37

4

Feel bad for Steve Smith. Was facing Ashwin but seeing Border's face sternly asking him to control any of his natural urges. How's the man supposed to concentrate?

Boria Majumdar

@BoriaMajumdar

Yet again he gets Steve Smith. And it is not a surprise. Because @ashwinravi99 has spent days and hours working Steve Smith out. Massive wicket at the stroke of lunch. @revsportz

9

1

Yet again he gets Steve Smith. And it is not a surprise. Because @ashwinravi99 has spent days and hours working Steve Smith out. Massive wicket at the stroke of lunch. @revsportz https://t.co/dFwtXu2ADe

Åśhïq 🇦🇷

@Bexploder_MUFC

Steve Smith gone for a duck!
#AUSvsIND

Steve Smith gone for a duck! 😭😭😭
#AUSvsIND

Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog

@cricket_broken

STEVE SMITH

Great Work by KS Bharat!
R Ashwin is the

#IndvAus #CricketTwitter

2

STEVE SMITH 🅾️

Great Work by KS Bharat!
R Ashwin is the 🐐

#IndvAus #CricketTwitter

ImSndp

@SandeepChand20

Steve Smith out for a duck, after a getting down the pitch of first ball he faced.

He played for the turn the 2nd ball, and @ashwinravi99 got him with a Arm ball .

Just @ashwinravi99 things.
@shauntaitaussie

#Ashwin #BGT2023 #KingKohli
#INDvsAUS #BCCI

Steve Smith 😃 out for a duck, after a getting down the pitch of first ball he faced😂😂.

He played for the turn the 2nd ball, and @ashwinravi99 got him with a Arm ball 😛.

Just @ashwinravi99 things.
@shauntaitaussie

#Ashwin #BGT2023 #KingKohli
#INDvsAUS #BCCI

aman

@bilateral_bully

Steve Smith politely agrees with Allan Border's comment of not giving thumbs up. Departs for a 2 ball duck #INDvAUS

Steve Smith politely agrees with Allan Border's comment of not giving thumbs up. Departs for a 2 ball duck #INDvAUS

RASHI

@RashiVerma26

Koi Steve Smith se batao ke sirf pitch ko ghurte rhne se kux nhi hota practice bhi krni padti hai

#2ndTest #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS
#TestCricket

Koi Steve Smith se batao ke sirf pitch ko ghurte rhne se kux nhi hota practice bhi krni padti hai 😂

#2ndTest #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS
#TestCricket

Happy 

@oyehappy

@BCCI @mastercardindia Ashwin owns Steve Smith.

@BCCI @mastercardindia Ashwin owns Steve Smith.

Harsha Bhogle

@bhogleharsha

What a bowler! @ashwinravi99 . Just a master of his craft.

1195

71

What a bowler! @ashwinravi99 . Just a master of his craft.

Keshav

@keshavtweets

Steve Smith giving Ash a thumbs up from the pavilion as Ash gets him Out on the very 2nd ball

#SteveSmith #INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy

2

Steve Smith giving Ash a thumbs up from the pavilion as Ash gets him Out on the very 2nd ball 😅

#SteveSmith #INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy https://t.co/AGjTeFL2dp

Vinayakk

@vinayakkm

Steve Smith gave it out before DRS did.

#INDvAUS

5

1

Steve Smith gave it out before DRS did.

#INDvAUS

Aniket Mishra

@aniketmishra299

Loving the banter some locals are indulging in, with the touring Aussie fans!

“You can go to see the Taj Mahal on Day 3”

“Steve Smith must really like ducks - he should go to Lodhi Gardens to see some more”

7

Loving the banter some locals are indulging in, with the touring Aussie fans!

“You can go to see the Taj Mahal on Day 3”

“Steve Smith must really like ducks - he should go to Lodhi Gardens to see some more”

😂😂

Pratham.

@75thHundredWhen

Ravi Ashwin is the only bowler to dismiss Steve Smith on a duck twice in Test cricket. #INDvsAUS

35

6

Ravi Ashwin is the only bowler to dismiss Steve Smith on a duck twice in Test cricket. #INDvsAUS https://t.co/XmF7O4AwTy

Mr. Nikhil Chawla

@MrNikhilChawla

@mufaddal_vohra Steve Smith spend more time on pitch while analyzing it, rather than playing on it

3

@mufaddal_vohra Steve Smith spend more time on pitch while analyzing it, rather than playing on it 😂😂😂

Riot-Su

@kankeneeche

Steve Smith getting out for a duck is rare, special. Indians will cheer it till eternity. #INDvAUS

Steve Smith getting out for a duck is rare, special. Indians will cheer it till eternity. #INDvAUS

.

@shan_daar

@4sacinom feeling bad for Steve smith who had to go before he could thumbs up Jadeja

@4sacinom feeling bad for Steve smith who had to go before he could thumbs up Jadeja 😂😜

Chon

@chinuuuuu17

ashwin is the motherfucking GOAT!!! #ash
steve smith is his bunny FR

ashwin is the motherfucking GOAT!!! #ash
steve smith is his bunny FR

---

Usman Khawaja stars after Australia lose Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne quickly

Australia got off to a flying start after Pat Cummins decided to bat first. Usman Khawaja and David Warner survived a hostile spell from Mohammed Siraj to add 50 runs for the first wicket.

Warner took some blows to the body but just as he looked settled, Mohammed Shami got the better of him with an excellent delivery. Labuschagne and Khawaja added another 41 runs for the second wicket before Ashwin's double blow brought the hosts back into the contest.

The senior off-spinner got Labuschagne and Smith out with three balls to reduce the tourists to 94/3 as the players walked back for lunch on Day 1.

​