Smith admits to taking dressing room help for DRS

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Steve Smith admitted on Tuesday that he made a mistake by seeking help from the dressing room on a DRS call but the Australia captain insisted that the game was played in good spirit.

The incident has snowballed into a controversy with many former players criticising Smith's act.

Explaining the incident, Smith said there was a bit of brain fade when he turned to dressing room for help.

"I got hit on the pad and looked towards the non-striker and then turned around towards Paddy. I should not have done that. This happened for the first time. I was looking at our boys, I should not have done that. There was a bit of brain fade," Smith said at the press conference.

Asked about his animated chat with rival captain Virat Kohli, Smith dismissed it as mere banter.

"Me and Virat were having a little chat out there. There was not much in it, so it was bit of fun, a bit of banter. That is the kind of things happen in these matches. It is nice to occasionally get engaged in such conversations. It was only good fun," he said.

Smith refused to say Kohli lost his cool and insisted the game's spirit was kept intact. "I am not sure, I think that is the question to ask them. As far as I am concerned the game was played in good spirit. You know, emotions sometimes get better of you, but I don't think anyone crossed the line.

"If emotions are kept in check it will make great contest."

Smith said, in the hindsight he thinks they should have taken a review call when Shaun Marsh was dismissed by Umesh Yadav.

Marsh had shouldered arms to Yadav's delivery and was hit on the pads in the off stump region.

"Regarding Shaun's one -- we were not sure entirely. I sort of said "go" as in "go have a look at it" and he sort of turned around and started walking, so I should've probably put my hands up and done it. Obviously we saw the replay and it was missing the stumps. It would have been a nice one to review," he said.

"It could have been important. Shaun was looking pretty good, so disappointing wicket at that time. That is the game of cricket and we got to move on from there."

The visiting captain said the result was "disappointing" but his side fought hard.

"We expected India to come back hard and in their second innings they played some good cricket. Partnership between Pujara and Rahane was really good. But I am still proud of the way these boys have played it. From my camera, they were bit North competing incredibly harder. I am sure we will continue to do that. we can get some more results going our way," he said.

Smith also had words of praise for Indian pace duo.

"Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma were very good, particularly in the first innings. It was very hard to score off them. At times they looked very dangerous of taking wickets as well." Smith said it was a "difficult task" to get 188.

"What we did this morning that was needed of us to do yesterday but credit to the guys who came out and did it today. We know that the world class bowlers that India have. Ashwin had to work for wickets but it was certainly suiting him," he said.

"On a day four wicket, it is pretty challenging. You need things to go your way and a little bit of luck and today wasn't our day. We competed very hard and this morning we bowled very well, got the breakthroughs that we needed, but 188 will always be a difficult task.

"We probably needed one or three batsmen to stand up for us a little bit and try and get close to that score. We were not able to do so, but we have played some very good cricket," he signed off.