Brisbane, Dec 12
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has expressed confidence in senior batter Steve Smith to score runs in the third Test against India in Brisbane after accumulating just 19 runs across three innings of the series so far.
Smith had scored 0, 17 and 2 in the first two Tests of the series. With pressure mounting over his form, Marsh called Smith a 'class player' and backed his abilities to perform for Australia in the third Test following their emphatic 10-wicket win in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval.
"We know he's one of our best players ever and I'm certainly backing him to get some runs. I'm probably not in a position to tell Steve Smith what he should work on. We know he's a class player and he's scored a lot of runs for Australia and we know at times when we've needed him, he always seems to step up," Marsh said on Thursday.
India arrive at the Gabba following a setback in Adelaide but carry fond memories from their remarkable victory at this venue during the 2020-21 series. That historic win ended Australia's unbeaten streak on the ground and secured back-to-back Test series triumphs for the visitors in Australia.
The hosts, however, are focused on the present and not dwelling on past outcomes. After suffering a defeat in Perth, they rebounded strongly in Adelaide to level the ongoing series and will look to maintain that momentum in the third Test.