Steve Smith reveals why he badly wanted to put offie R Ashwin under pressure on Day 1

Steve Smith said he was trying to redeem himself by putting veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin under pressure on opening day of third Test against India at Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Ashwin has alrey accounted for Smith cheaply in two innings of first two Test matches for scores of 1 & 0 respectively in ongoing series. Coincidentally, Smith was caught off veteran offie's bowling at slips on both occasions (rmal slip in 1st Test & leg-slip in 2nd).

'Wanted to put him under a little bit of pressure': Smith

"I'm good, nice to spend a bit of time out re, nice to stitch in a partnership with Marnus. I wanted to put him (Ashwin) under a little bit of pressure which I haven't done in this series. Was just trying to hold grip a bit tighter, I've been struggling, so I was getting into good positions today. Was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully, we go along well tomorrow," Smith said after conclusion of play on  opening day.

31-year-old elegant number three batsman's move of playing with a confident approach has worked very well for Australia as of w and he will be expected to come out all guns blazing and convert his good start into an impactful kck on Day 2.

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Australia dominate proceedings on Day 1

Australian Test skipper Tim Paine won a crucial toss and elected to bat first. Once Pocovski was dismissed, number three and number four batting combination of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith ensured that re were furr hiccups and went on to d an unbeaten 60-run stand for third wicket. 26-year-old registered a vital half-century. Labuschagne remained t out on 67 while Smith was unbeaten on 31 as Australia's scoreline re 166/2 at stumps on Day 1.

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(With ANI Inputs)