BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY
Test of maturity for Kohli and Smith
With Australia just one win away from retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy, skipper Smith’s focus will be on maintaining the pressure on India
New Delhi — Keeping a lid on emotion will be nearly as important as executing game plans for both India and Australia when the world’s top two teams continue their captivating series with the third Test in Ranchi on Thursday. Sparks will always fly when two teams playing similarly aggressive cricket clash on the field but Steve Smith’s "brain fade" during Australia’s defeat in Bengaluru has injected an extra layer of acrimony into the four-match series. The Australia captain’s glance to the dressing room when he was deciding whether to review an umpiring decision drew an explosive response from his counterpart, Virat Kohli. The cricket boards sprang to the defence of their respective captains, and former players did their bit in fanning the fire until the International Cricket Council stepped in to douse it. The boards, comrades-in-arms in many a battle at the cricket council, have since agreed a truce and brokered a meeting between Kohli and Smith before the match at the new Test v...
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