Score big in India just like Karun Nair: Steve Smith

Australia captain Steve Smith has urged the senior players of his side to step up and take more responsibility during the tough India tour ahead and also wants opener David Warner to score a big century like the one Karun Nair smashed against England recently.
Young batsman Nair had scored an unbeaten 303 in India's innings and 75-run win against England in the fifth Test of the series.
Specifically asked about his expectations from David Warner, who has not made a hundred overseas since 2014, Smith said he must convert a century into a big one.
"It's pretty important that our senior players step up in those conditions and take control. It's something we didn't do overly well in Sri Lanka, and we didn't get the results that we wanted there. The senior players - myself, Davey, (Mitchell) Starcy, Josh (Hazlewood) and Nathan Lyon - need to step up and really take control," Smith told 'ESPNCricinfo'.

"I'm going to do it differently to Davey. You don't want to get rid of someone's natural flair and the way they play. But if he gets to a hundred, it might be about knuckling down again and going big, get 200 or 300, like Karun Nair did a few weeks ago. Those are the big scores that set your team up, so just being hungry and willing to keep going and not let up."
Smith said India is a difficult place to tour.

"India play incredibly well in their own backyard, and each individual is going to have to have plans in place. Ashwin and Jadeja have been incredible for a while now. They have got a couple of good quicks who bowl good reverse swing, and their batsmen score big runs," Smith said.

The Australia captain said England might have lost both the Test and ODI series but the team actually played quite well.
"Looking at the India-England series, England actually played reasonably well, they scored big runs, but India just went bigger and bigger. We are going to have to find ways to get them out and we are going to have to find ways to bat for long periods - 150 overs in your first innings and set the game up from there.
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Smith is not surprised with his team's spirited display in the series.
"We've worked very hard, guys have been pretty clear in the way they've wanted to play and the game plans they've been able to formulate. For me, the most pleasing thing is we have been able to take it out in the middle.

"We have talked a lot, for many years, coming over to these conditions, and we have said the right things but once we've got out in the middle, we haven't been able to put them together. The stage is really set now for a fantastic fourth Test match and the guys are really excited by that."
Smith said that the team has played to its potential against a quality side like India.
"India are a very tough side to play against, particularly here at home. We've seen the cricket they've played over this summer. They have played some very good cricket. For me, it was about us trying to find ways to play the way we need to play out here.

"And as I've said before, I'm proud of the way the boys have gone about their business, of formulating plans that can work in these conditions. It's so hard to just attack all the time as you probably can in Australia.