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".
Steve Smith gave Indian all-rounder Jadeja a thumbs up after beating his outside edge during the second innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Nagpur.
Border slammed Smith's on-field antics and described the gesture as ridiculous after the match, speaking to Fox Cricket.
"Play with a grittier edge. We're giving blokes thumbs up when they're beating us outside the off stump, after all. What in the world is going on? That is completely absurd "On Saturday, Border stated.
Carey, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, backed Smith's on-field gesture and expressed his admiration for the Australian Test legend.
"We hold Allan Border in high regard. Guys, I suppose, do things differently. "We see these players a lot," Carrey told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"You're probably alluding to the Steve Smith comment more than any but, you know, he's mates with a lot of them. That is how he (Smith) plays. He does it in all circumstances. He fiddles with his hands and does other things. And I believe that's what gets him so focused.
"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."