Batting in India demands unwavering focus and patience, and that is what Australia would aim to do in the third Test, Steve Smith said on Tuesday.

Smith will lead here in the absence of Pat Cummins, who has gone back home to be with his ailing mother. Smith was also the captain when Australia toured India in 2016-17.

“I don’t know if you can call it a full circle. It (captaincy) has come in difficult circumstances with Patty back home.

“Things haven’t gone to plan so far in this series. We have got ourselves into some good positions but not been able to take advantage of them. We can hopefully rectify it this week,” Smith said on the eve of the game.

Half of the side fell to the sweep shot in the second Test, one they could have won if it wasn’t for the second innings collapse. “Delhi was probably a difficult place to play the sweep with the variable bounce, more than anything else. A couple of us went away from our plans. That was disappointing.”

Kasprowicz for pace trio: Former pacer Michael Kasprowicz wants Australia to play to their strengths and go for a three-pronged pace attack in Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green and Scott Boland for the third Test in Indore.

“I don’t mind (three quicks) — and I’m going out on a limb here I suppose — not taking India on in the spin department,” Kasprowicz told SEN Radio. “We don’t need three spinners... I reckon get Boland in there.”