'Leave cricket before cricket leaves you': Australian fans tear into struggling Steve Smith | Border Gavaskar Trophy Tests

Australian Steve Smith's poor form continued at the Adelaide Oval where he was dismissed for an 11-ball two against India on Saturday. Smith was strangled down the leg side by Jasmprit Bumrah, giving Rishabh Pant a regulation catch, a dismissal Matthew Hayden labelled as one of the worst ways to get out.

The 35-year-old Australian averages 56.09 -- his lowest since 2016. Reports showed that since last summer, Steve Smith has not managed a fifty or a ton in the first innings of a Test match. From nine innings, he just averages 17.4, having made just 157 runs.

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“I mean, as you know, there's probably only one way to get out that's worse and that's run out off the bowler's hand and getting strangled down the leg side. But the fact is that Steve Smith is gonna have his stumps attacked time and time again until he proves otherwise that he's back in the touch that we've seen for the whole of his career. He was always so dynamic off his legs,” said Hayden on Star Sports.

Steve Smith's poor form

The Australian batter has managed only 10 runs in four innings so far, averaging a mere 3.33 against Bumrah. His overall numbers this year have also been underwhelming: 232 runs in 13 innings at an average of 23.20, with just one half-century.

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Social media reacts to Steve Smith's struggles

Meanwhile, Smith received little mercy from Australian cricket lovers on social media as well. It was high time for the New South Wales batter to reassess his future, they said. 

"Steve Smith, with heavy heart, leave cricket mate before cricket leaves you. You are now unable to bat when even situation is favourable for you," one user jotted on X.

"Steve Smith must be dropped now. #AUSvIND We can't keep protecting those who aren't performing," another said.

"After three innings, Mitchell Starc has scored more runs in this series than Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Nathan McSweeney," another user observed.

"It’s time for Smith and Marsh to stand down. As much as I loved watching Steve Smith bat it seems time to give someone else a chance," yet another wrote.