Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 1st day

"Captaincy fitting Smith well - Rogers"

 "Smith plays a shot during Boxing Day Test"

Australia 5 for 259 (Smith 72*, Rogers 57, Watson 52) vs India

From bashing big scores to firing back a few choice words at sledging opponents, the captaincy is fitting Australia's Steven Smith well, according to opening batsman Chris Rogers. Smith compiled a watchful half-century to see Australia to stumps at 259-5 on day one of the third test against India on Friday, continuing a stellar run of form for the baby-faced batsman nicknamed 'Smudge'.
Unbeaten twice in the series-opening test in Adelaide with scores of 162 and 52, Smith struck a match-winning 133 in Brisbane standing in for injured captain Michael Clarke to drive Australia to a 2-0 series lead.

Unbeaten on 72 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 25-year-old is in the box seat to helpAustralia seal the four-match series a game early.

"There's definitely an echelon of batsmen at the moment who seem to be above and beyond," Rogers, who scored 57 for his third successive half-century of the series, told reporters.

"Davey (Warner) to a certain extent and now Smudger (Smith).

"It's phenomenal to watch and great to be a part of. (Smith) is just growing day by day and it's scary to think how good he can be.

"Someone threw a ball back at him today and he had the confidence to say a few words back at him so it looks as if he knows he belongs and he knows he's one of the better players in the world at the moment."

Dhawan went from 100% to 50% when he dropped Watson's edge from Shami 10 minutes before the lunch interval, taking three bites at the ball before guiding it to ground. This reprieve, and a few other misfields, left Rogers and Watson to amble to lunch in happier circumstances than they might have imagined when Warner was dismissed.
A boundary to Watson from the final ball of the second over after lunch seemed to herald more free-scoring, but it was in fact the last such scoring shot for more than 16 overs. Australian progress was stymied by Shami and, particularly, Ashwin, who used his height and variations in pace to good effect.
Rogers went to his 50, as did Watson, but neither would go on. A Shami delivery of teasing line and in-between length found Rogers' outside edge on 57, and in the following over Watson swept across a straight ball from Ashwin and was lbw.
Understandably, Smith and Marsh took their time to avert further loss, but as tea loomed both had found something approaching a decent batting rhythm. Smith opened up the final session by sallying forth to deposit Ashwin into the long-off seats, but lost Marsh when he snicked Shami, firm-footed, through to Dhoni.