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McGrath backs Steven Smith to continue aggressive cricket
Sydney: Pace bowling great Glenn McGrath Saturday voiced his faith in new captain Steven Smith continuing Australian’s tradition of playing an “attacking brand” of cricket.
“We’ve been spoilt here in Australia with the attacking brand of cricket we play,” McGrath was quoted as saying by news.com.au Saturday.
Smith was called upon to take a tough call on a declaration on the final day of the third Test at Melbourne.
Australia batted till lunch on the fifth day to set India an improbable 284-run target in 70 overs. India lost six wickets in the run chase but held on to force a draw, leaving Australia questioning the timing of the declaration.
Smith was criticised for delaying the declaration that prevented Australia from winning the third consecutive Test in the four-match series.
McGrath said Smith will reveal a more aggressive edge if he’s faced with another tough call on declaration in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), starting Tuesday.
“I look at the declaration on that last day, to get a series win is still something pretty big. We shouldn’t lose sight of that,” the retired legend said.
“The boys were still playing for a win. We had our chances on that last day. It was a very flat wicket.
“But if there’s a similar situation in this Test match, you’ll see Steve go a little bit harder.”
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.