Australia v West Indies, Second Test, Day 4: Why Carey and Cummins hold key for Australia
Holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series following a 159-run victory in the first Test in Barbados, the tourists have three wickets in hand as they sit on 221-7 going into the fourth day of what has so far been a low-scoring duel.
Smith's innings of 71, his 43rd Test half-century, reflected his awareness of the state of the match as the day progressed.
Cautious at first when he came to the crease with his side again in early trouble at 28 for three in the first session, Smith unfurled more of the trademark shots from his considerable repertoire in productive partnerships with Green and then the always aggressive Travis Head.
He looked well set to coast to a 37th Test hundred after tea only to be undone by Justin Greaves, the seam bowling all-rounder trapping Smith lbw to end an innings that spanned 119 deliveries and included one six and seven fours.
His 93-run fourth-wicket partnership with Green was pivotal in the visitors tilting the balance of play in their favour.
'It's a tricky surface, a bit up and down, a bit of seam movement, so for this innings I decided to bat on middle (stump) and try and be a bit more still to negate lbw as much as possible,' Smith said.
'And then anything loose try to cash in on it. You've got to try to put the bad balls away to put the pressure back on the bowlers.'
For the former captain, the state of the pitch plus effective use of the new ball will give Australia the advantage going into the final innings of the match.
'We're in a nice spot. I don't think the wicket is going to get any better to bat,' he said.
'I think the new ball will be pretty critical for us when we get that opportunity but hopefully we can first get up to (a lead of) 300.' Green, whose previous three innings in this series in the vital number three position have raised questions about his suitability for the role, displayed commendable discipline and application in working his way to a seventh Test fifty.
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