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Smith eyes dream Test against India

16th December, 2014
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Well-rested Australian skipper Steve Smith hopes to realise a dream in the second Test at a venue that may give returning India captain MS Dhoni nightmares.

After a sleepless night, Smith said he had finally got his head around becoming Australia’s 45th Test captain in Michael Clarke’s absence starting in Brisbane on Wednesday.

But a wake-up call looms for Dhoni who takes over the reins from Virat Kohli at a venue where Australia have not suffered a Test defeat since 1988.

A repeat of the bouncy wicket that helped Australia’s Mitchell Johnson terrorise England in last season’s 381-run first Ashes Test win has been prepared.

And it seems Smith can’t wait to unleash Test debutant Josh Hazlewood in a new-look pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc but without Ryan Harris (quad) and an out-of-sorts Peter Siddle.

“Hopefully after the wickets we’ve played … at the Adelaide Oval and the two in the UAE (against Pakistan) it’s exciting for our fast bowlers to finally have something that’s going to have some liveliness to it,” Smith beamed.

After a fitful night, Smith said he was now comfortable with becoming skipper and would sleep on his second Test plans.

“It’s the night before last that I didn’t sleep too well – I was so excited about the call (confirming him as skipper),” Smith said.

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“Tonight I’ll get a good chance to think about the next couple of days and think of a few plans.

“I’m just looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and getting stuck into it.”

But Dhoni – back from a thumb injury – may be forgiven for tossing and turning.

India have never won a Test in Brisbane – albeit in just five appearances.

Remarkably India have played just five Tests in Brisbane since 1947 – their best result being a draw the last time they visited in 2003.

And Dhoni has won just six out of 28 Tests outside India.

If they lose the three remaining Tests, Dhoni will become the most defeated captain away from home in the game’s history.

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But an unfazed Dhoni said: “I am very bad at stats but people keep feeding me with stats.

“(But) the last couple of tours we haven’t played here.

“(And) we have won at some of the fastest Test wickets – Johannesburg and Perth.

“It would be a nice challenge for our youngsters.

“Hopefully they stand up and perform.

“A lot will depend on how quickly they adapt.”

Smith said Australia’s aggressive approach would not change despite several first Test flare-ups.

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They resulted in fines for Australia’s David Warner and India’s Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli.

“We’re certainly not going to change the way we play with our aggressive positive mindset,” Smith said.

“There’s no change there, it’s just the line in the sand and hopefully no one crosses it.”

Asked about an emotional letdown after the 48-run first Test win dedicated to Phillip Hughes, Smith said: “We’re all in a pretty good place at the moment”.

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