Batting coach reveals Steve Smith's dressing room outburst following sweep disaster in Delhi Test

Steve Smith (Image credits: Twitter)

Australia were thrashed by India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Despite a great start at 61-1 in the second innings, the visitors suffered a batting collapse on Day 3 and were bowled out for 113 runs. The defeat helped India retain the BGT, while the Kangaroos continue to recover from an embarrassing Test match.

Pat Cummins and his team faced severe criticism from cricket greats and fans alike. There were questions about the Aussie players' mentality, approach to spin, and even the team selection.

Batting coach Michael Di Venuto said it was like watching a "car crash in slow motion" as poor shot selection by the Australian players resulted in disastrous sweep attempts. However, the officials are adamant that the team did not get its preparation wrong for the series.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Di Venuto said the team had not premeditated to counter the spinning wicket with sweep strokes. While suggesting that Smith's dismissal should have been a lesson to the Aussie players, the coach also revealed that the star batter expressed his frustration with him after returning to the dressing room.

“He was certainly disappointed when he got out and he made it known that it was a poor shot in the dressing room,” Di Venuto said. Di Venuto said Smith would be disappointed not to make a meaningful impact in the first two Tests, but added that such things happen when players are under pressure from world-class bowlers.

“I think most people would have heard that, they should have had a fair idea of what not to do. It was just one of those moments in the game when you’re under pressure from world-class bowlers, things happen sometimes, it’s unusual for him.”

'It was like a car crash in slow motion': Di Venuto

Commenting on the batting collapse, Di Venuto said Smith's outburst said it all,

"It was like a car crash in slow motion."

“I wish there was and generally it happens and it’s already happened and it’s like what has just happened there. You guys saw exactly what we saw. It’s just constant panic and people moving everywhere.

“You lose a wicket you never want to go bang bang and lose two. And in this country it’s easy to get knocked over early and then it’s just matter about trying to get that next partnership and calming the waters a little bit. The other day we lost four wickets on 95. Something like that. It just kept on happening.”

The former Australian cricketer said that their plans were good, but the pressure caused them to stray away from their plans.

“Plans certainly weren’t wrong, our plans were good, but if people go away from their plans they get in trouble as we saw. I think if we look back at the position we were in at 2-85 executing our plans very well in that second innings and ahead of the game and the wheels fell off after that. Guys under pressure moved away from their plans of what worked and you pay the consequence in this country," he said.

Di Venuto further said,

“Batting is pretty similar analogy I think, you’ve got to swim between the flags in this country, if you go outside the flags and your game plan you are going to get in trouble.

“It was frenetic, it was panic, you saw exactly what we saw on the balcony. It was a procession of players going out and getting out. It is an easy place to get out early here. We are talking about two world class bowlers in their home conditions, you’ve really got to trust your defence, have good attacking shots but smart ones. We didn’t see too much of that in second innings.

“It’s frustrating because you know the work the coaches and players put in to get ready, they’ve worked exceptionally hard since we got over here and before. As we’ve seen the guys that got in looked as good as anyone.”