Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey has brushed off criticism from former Test captain Allan Border on Steve Smith's thumbs-up gesture to Ravindra Jadeja by saying "that's probably what gets Smith pretty focused".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
During the second innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Nagpur, Steve Smith gave Indian all-rounder Jadeja a thumbs up after beating his outside edge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After the match, while Speaking to Fox Cricket, Border slammed Smith's on-field antics and described the gesture as ridiculous.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Play with a harder edge. I mean, we're giving blokes the thumbs up when they're beating us outside the off stump. What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous," Border said on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While speaking to the reporters on Tuesday, Carey backed Smith's on-field gesture and said he highly respects the Australian Test great.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We highly respect Allan Border. I guess among the group, guys do it differently. We come up against these players a lot," Carrey was quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You're probably alluding to the Steve Smith comment more than any but, you know, he's mates with a lot of them. And that's the way he (Smith) plays. He does it in all situations. He plays around with his hands and does all that stuff. And I think that's probably what gets him pretty focused.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"They're obviously strong comments but, as a group, we believe in what we're doing and come the second Test we're ready to put a few learnings into place."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You're probably alluding to the Steve Smith comment more than any but, you know, he's mates with a lot of them. And that's the way he (Smith) plays. He does it in all situations. He plays around with his hands and does all that stuff. And I think that's probably what gets him pretty focused.<\/p>\r\n\r\n