England would have hoped that the Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s would prove to be a psychological blow for Steve Smith but the Australia batsman continues to make the 2019 Ashes his own with another splendid display with the bat on Saturday in Manchester.
The outstanding Aussie struck a 92-ball 82 in the second innings of the penultimate Test to put the visitors firmly in control of the Ashes with his match tally now standing at a staggering 293 runs.
England had made a roaring start with the ball in the second innings with four quick top-order wickets but there was once again no way past Smith’s bat with the Australia man batting with all the confidence in the world.
Here, we take a closer look at Smith’s second innings showing at Old Trafford which followed up the 211 he registered in the first innings.
SECOND INNINGS STATS
Runs: 82
Deliveries faced: 92
Fours: 11
Sixes: 0
Strike-rate: 89.13
30-SECOND REPORT
As has been the case all series, Smith arrived at the crease much earlier than he would have wanted with both Australian openers falling cheaply once again. The subsequent dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne had reduced Australia to 44-4 but Smith once again proved to be a thorn in England’s flesh with his fifth 50-plus score of the series in as many innings.
The right-hander forged a vital 105-run stand for the fifth wicket alongside Matthew Wade where he was the dominant batsman by some distance. Smith ticked at nearly a run-a-ball and was looking good for his 26th Test ton before being caught on the boundary in his bid to loft a Jack Leach delivery for six.
And on he rolls... Steve Smith is the only player in the past 50 years to score 250 runs in an #Ashes Test in England. He's now done it three times.
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) September 7, 2019
GOT RIGHT
Smith walked into bat when England had their tails up but he turned the tide instantly by taking the attack to the hosts. Having faced 319 deliveries for his double ton in the first-innings, Smith took no time to get settled at the crease and he was middling the ball from the very go on Saturday.
Recognising the need for Australia to score quick runs, Smith was at his free-flowing best at what was more of a one-day innings than a Test one. He was equally punishing against both pacers and spinners alike and showed particular disdain towards Archer by cracking some sumptuous boundaries on either side of the pitch.
Steve Smith's
— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) September 7, 2019
Last 9 Innings In Ashes
239, 76, 102*, 83, 144, 142, 92, 211, 82
VERDICT – 9/10
Some Ashes the Australian batsman is having despite not having played any Test cricket for nearly 16 months prior to this trip. His tally in the current series has crept past 650 despite having to miss the Headingley Test and he continues to be England’s arch nemesis with his ninth consecutive score of above 76 against the opponents.
Such prolific numbers in Test cricket have not been seen since the time of Sir Don Bradman and the fact that this 82-run knock is his lowest in the series puts his incredible summer into context.
It has been the Ashes of Steve Smith by all definitions and it would actually be a tragedy if he does not walk away with the urn after this Herculean effort.
There have been a lot of superlatives for Steve Smith of late....add unselfish cricketer to that list 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Could of easily have knocked it around to bring up yet another 💯 but the teams success more important #loveit
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 7, 2019
