Dismissal shows Steve Smith is a cunning tactical genius

Australian vice captain Steve Smith was the mastermind of a dismissal that had spinner Nathan Lyon full of adoration.

Steve Smith loves it when a plan comes together.

The Australian vice captain’s grin said it all after he was the mastermind behind the dismissal of West Indies batter Alick Athanaze on Saturday.

The Second Test is evenly poised heading into Day 4 with Smith (33) and Cameron Green (9) seeing the Aussies through to stumps at 2/60.

The hosts still need 156 runs to win after the tourists were dismissed for 193 in their second innings.

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Even without the bat or ball in his hand, Smith found a way to have an impact on the contest when he and Nathan Lyon combined for the dismissal of Athanaze during the second session of play.

Smith took over the captaincy while Pat Cummins was taking a break off the field and hatched a plan for Lyon to tempt the West Indies No. 4 batter into have a slash at a widish delivery that pitched at an uncomfortable length.

Athanaze was undone trying to drive Lyon’s delivery, but only managed sending a thick outside edge to Smith at first slip.

The former captain immediately stuck his index finger up and gave it a brief wave in triumph after holding the catch.

He walked towards Lyon with a big grin on his face and had his finger pointing directly at his teammate.

Lyon revealed after the day’s play that it was all part of Smith’s plan right from the beginning.

“I’ll give him credit for that one,” Lyon said.

Steve Smith loves it when a plan comes together. Photo: Fox Cricket.

“He came up and said, ‘Why don’t you move your mid-wicket into another catcher on the off-side and bowl really wide?’ He didn’t feel like he wanted to leave the ball at all.

“I’ve been very fortunate enough to have him at first slip.

“As a bowler, when you’re standing at the top of your mark, and you look up and you see someone with Steve Smith’s stature … it gives you so much confidence.

“If I get a nick, 99 per cent of the time it’s going to be taken.”

The wicket left the Windies in trouble at 4/123.

Steve Smith enjoyed it even more than Nathan Lyon. Photo: Fox Cricket.

It was Lyon’s 50th Test wicket at the Gabba, with only Glenn McGrath (65) and Shane Warne (68) enjoying more success at the venue.

Smith, meanwhile, heads into Day 4 with the job of carrying Australia to victory in its difficult second innings chase.

Smith is yet to produce an innings of any substance in three knocks since his controversial move to opener, but he will resume on 33 not out from 56 balls with Australia 2/60 and needing another 156 runs to win.

A solid half-century, or more, in an Australian win will go a long way to silencing those doubters, with some tough five-day contests to come away from home.

First up in Australia’s next stop in the World Test Championship is a two-match series in New Zealand in February and March.