Aussies have work to do overseas: Smith

The Border-Gavaskar trophy is back in Australia, but there will still be a sense of unfinished business until Steve Smith’s men conquer the subcontinent.

Australia boast an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series after battling to a draw at the MCG on Tuesday.

It was a degree of retribution after India embarrassed Australia last year with a 4-0 series loss known best for the “homework-gate” saga that led in part to Mickey Arthur’s exit as coach.

Smith was content after steering Australia to a series win in his second Test as captain.

“Very satisfying,” Smith said.

“It would have been nice to win … but we got another series win, which is what we were after.”

Australia will celebrate heartily, but they are desperate to perform at the same level away from home.

“We still have a lot of work to do in those conditions,” Smith said.

“We do play very well in our own backyard.

“It’s nice to have that trophy back now and hopefully the next time we go back to India, we can do a better job over there.”

MS Dhoni’s sudden Test retirement means firebrand Virat Kohli will lead the side in the dead rubber at the SCG.

Kohli has engaged in a war of words with Australia on the field throughout the series, while his forthright press conference after day three at the MCG put the opposition’s noses further out of joint.

“When we played in India, there were not so many words coming back from them, which is very surprising,” Kohli said.

“There’s no good reason that I should respect unnecessarily some people when they are not respecting me.”

Smith declared at lunch on day five of the Boxing Day Test, inviting India to attempt an MCG record run-chase of 384 runs in two sessions.

They declined, reaching 6-174 at stumps.

“In my mind, Australia batted too long,” Shane Warne said during the first session, while calling the game for the Nine Network.

Smith consulted with coach Darren Lehmann and a handful of senior players, but ultimately the declaration was his decision.

“Everyone was on the same page,” Smith said.

“I thought lunch was our best opportunity … I changed my mind a couple of times. I wasn’t quite sure when to pull out.

“I didn’t really want to give India a crack with the batters they had in the shed and how good that wicket was.”

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