Smith picks Tendulkar, Harbhajan ahead of Kohli in his dream team

KOLKATA: If Australia skipper Steve Smith has to pick two India cricketers in his dream team, India counterpart Virat Kohli would not be part of it."I would have Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh in my team," Smith said on Wednesday when asked to name two cricketers he would like to have in his side.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Smith and Kohli are billed as world's best two batsmen at present.
2. "Since Virat has come the fitness of the team has improved a lot," Smith said.
3. Smith is set to play his 100th ODI at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Smith and Kohli are billed as world's best two batsmen at present.Asked to talk about the rivalry between them, Smith said: "I think Virat is a terrific player and captain. What he has done with the Indian team is been exceptional. Personally I don't like battles with different players if that makes sense."

"Since Virat has come the fitness of the team has improved a lot," Smith, 28, said.Smith is set to play his 100th ODI at the Eden Gardens on Thursday when India will take on the Aussies in the second One Day International of the five-match series. India lead 1-0 at the moment.

Talking about playing at the iconic venue where the emergence of Australian cricket took place 30 years back in 1987 when Allan Border's Australia led his side to World Cup glory defeating England, Smith said: "I have never played an international match here. I assume the crowd will be pretty loud and packed. I am looking forward to playing here. I have watched a lot of games in the past being played here."

Smith named spin king Shane Warne and batting legend Sir Donald Bradman as the two picks in his all-time Test side while in ODIs he would take Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hussey.

Smith expressed happiness over the fact that the bitter pay dispute that threatened to derail the Australian summer of cricket is over and they are here in India taking part in an overseas tour.

Peace was finally brokered after months of impasse between Cricket Australia and the players' union on August 3 with the Australian team then travelling to Bangladesh and playing two Tests. There were doubts over the Ashes as well.

"We go through an MoU every five years and the players were very strong on keeping our revenue sharing model. We didn't want to lose that and if you give it up now in five years you are not going to get it back," the Australian captain said."It was a strong stand from the playing group and we were fortunate the ACA negotiated on behalf of the players' group. They did a terrific job. It was nice it was sorted out and we could go to Bangladesh and be here as well. You never want to miss tours," he added.

In the absence of a deal, Australia A's recent tour to South Africa was cancelled 48 hours before the team was supposed to leave, and the tour of Bangladesh was next in the firing line with the departure date fast approaching.