Steve Smith spoke about the magnitude of skipper Michael Clarke’s effort here on Wednesday.
“I think he (Clarke) has been amazing over the last few days. It’s been tough for all of us. By spending the whole time by Hughsey’s (Phillip Hughes’s) family side, just the strength and courage he (Clarke) showed, is unbelievable. Clarke must have been mentally drained. The way he came out and did something like this for Hughsey is remarkable,” Smith noted.
On Clarke batting despite a painful back, Smith said: “He was keen to get out there and it worked out well for him. A few shots hurt him, but he played beautifully under the circumstances. He got himself into the best positions that his body allowed him, manipulated the field.”
On his own hundred, Smith said, “I had a bit of a break (play was interrupted) when I was on 98. I thought I should get two more runs and stick my bat and thank Hughsey for being with me out there.”
Smith said the last few days had been hard for the entire team. “I wouldn’t say I didn’t think about not playing. We then decided to go out there and do something that we love doing.
“I know that’s what Hughsey would have wanted us to do. As I was saying he was with us, Pup (Clarke), me, and Warner all the way.”
Asked whether this was his best hundred, Smith replied, “I think my hundred at Centurion against South Africa in those conditions is probably my best so far, but every century is special.”
Happy at No. 5Although he had batted up the order in the past, Smith said he was happy at No. 5 now. He added patience at the crease — in contrast to his earlier impulsive ways — was enabling him build big scores.
India’s fielding coach R. Sridhar said he was pleased with the side’s fielding and catching for most part.
“Towards the end of a long innings, there can be some concentration lapses and we dropped a few catches. It’s part of the game. Overall I am happy with the effort the boys put in, particularly ground fielding,” he said.
Sridhar was confident that the team had found a new slip cordon.
“Like in batting, the fielding also goes through a period of transition. I think Vijay, Dhawan and Kohli are good in the slips when the pacemen bowl. When spinners are on, Kohli is good in that position.”
While he conceded some of India’s bowling plans might not have succeeded, Sridhar said, “You need to give credit to the way the Australians batted, Warner, Smith and Clarke in particular.”
Sridhar said his job was to make the most of a player’s potential. “Everyone cannot be a Jonty Rhodes, but we have to see that a cricketer performs to the best of his ability.”
