5 reasons why this could be a defining tour for Steven Smith as captain

#3 Boost his self-confidence as a player and skipper

Smith’s captaincy has been a mixed bag so far

Smith has been the backbone of Australia’s batting and has scored runs on a consistent basis. His success as the captain will not only influence the team’s morale but also have a great impact on his captaincy. Smith averages 73.73 as the skipper of the side in Tests as compared to his overall average of 60.15. These figures corroborate the belief that he likes to flourish under pressure.

He has led Australia in 20 Tests, won 11, lost 5 and drawn on four occasions. This is also his first assignment as captain on Indian soil and a solid start will only do good to his captaincy career. Smith is a fighter, and this is a big battle. Teams like England, New Zealand, South Africa and Bangladesh have not managed to beat India at home and this is the Aussie captain’s litmus Test as the skipper of the side.

Australia are scheduled to play England in one of the most intense cricket battles known to mankind – The Ashes, in November. With this being the only Test series preceding the Ashes, it will be important for Smith, as a skipper or a player to fare well. A good run in this series will bolster his and the team’s confidence for the upcoming Ashes, as the onus of making a comeback is on the Aussies.