Smith apologises

But disappointed that BCCI made the Wade-Jadeja exchange public

DHARAMSHALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, 28/03/2017: Australian Captain Steven Smith congratulates Indian Captain Virat Kohli on the fourth day's play of the 4th test between India and Australia at the HPCA stadium. Photo: V. V. Krishnan DHARAMSHALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, 28/03/2017: Australian Captain Steven Smith congratulates Indian Captain Virat Kohli on the fourth day's play of the 4th test between India and Australia at the HPCA stadium. Photo: V. V. Krishnan -

As the top-scorer and perhaps the best batsman of the series by quite a distance, Steve Smith was justified in being disappointed at losing the four-Test series. What would have hurt more was that the loss came, within four days, at a venue and in conditions that were the best and closest to home.

But even as the Australian captain rued his team’s missed chances, what made news was the skipper apologising for the bad blood between the sides and his own behaviour.

“I am sort of proud of my performances in this series. I set myself high standards and I wanted to lead from the front. I have sort of been very intense in my own little bubble and at times I have let my emotions and actions just falter a little bit throughout this series and I apologise for that.

“That’s a big stride for me moving forward and something I can really learn from and continue to grow as an individual and as a leader,” Smith said at the end of the final Test here on Tuesday.

Learning curve

There were more lessons for the 27-year old and his team that gave the toughest fight for India in recent times but was unable to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “This team has grown so quickly. We are still a very young side, it wasn’t too long ago we were at Hobart and it was the end of the world.

“It’s been a great learning curve for each and every one of the boys in the room. They are hurting right now, it’s always tough when you lose a series at the final hurdle but the guys are going to take so much out of this series,” he added.

There was a note of bitterness in the end, though, but the blame this time was targeted not towards the Indian team but the BCCI. “I was a little disappointed that the BCCI sieved through the archive to find a conversation on the field that was happening between Matty (Wade) and Jadeja. Usually what’s said on the field should stay on the field.

“It’s been a hard-fought series and guys are going to say things here and there, their emotions are going to be high. So I was a little bit disappointed by the fact the BCCI did bring that out,” he commented.