Australia Test captain Steven Smith said he is ready to curb his attacking style and opt for a more defensive approach to taste success in the sub-continent.
Smith leads a new-look Australian team into a two-Test series against Bangladesh next month after a 3-2 Ashes loss in England. The Aussies swept Bangladesh 2-0 in their last tour in 2006 but have generally struggled on the slow Asian wickets.
Smith led Australia against India in three Tests at home but this will be his first assignment as Test skipper on tour.
“I think that’s something I’m going to have to adapt to with my captaincy,” Smith said in Sydney. “In Australia you can be a little bit more attacking. In places on the subcontinent you’ve got to find ways to get batsmen out, you might have to bore them out.”
“For me it’s about being adaptable wherever we play.
“So you might have to be more defensive with that and when the ball starts to spin and reverse swing, that’s when you can attack.”
Australia will be without pacers Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, who have been rested, leaving workhorse Peter Siddle and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc to lead the attack in Bangladesh.
Pat Cummins will be fighting for the third seamer’s spot with uncapped Tasmania bowler Andrew Fekete, although Smith could play two spinners in the Tests in Chittagong and Dhaka.
On his part, Siddle, who didn’t feature for most of the Ashes and proved his mettle with six wickets in Australia’s consolation win in the fifth Test, will be crucial for Australia’s chances.
“A big part of my game, especially in Australian conditions, has been reverse swing,” Siddle said.
“That does benefit me a lot over there, and what I normally do is what I’ll do over there. Be patient, build pressure and bowl in the right areas. And I think my experience, not in Bangladesh, but in those conditions, will help.”
