Billy Remmington touches on the greatness of Steve Smith, after the Australia man notched his second century of the match in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
It has taken just three and a half days of red-ball cricket for Steve Smith to re-affirm his status as Test cricket’s most relentless run-scorer since Sir Donald Bradman.
After his absence, any lingering doubts that that status might have been unjustified were quashed. Calls of Kohli go heard but not always heeded, but there is surely now little ambiguity as to who is the best five-day batter in world cricket. The reluctance amongst some to crown someone who was banned for bringing the game into disrepute does exist, but this match has solidified Smith as one of the most devastatingly effective Test batsman ever to have carved a career in the game.
Steve Smith’s last six Ashes scores:
239
76
102*
83
144
142Good, good player#Ashes pic.twitter.com/RpQnd3DiUu
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 4, 2019
Having put England to the sword with two stunning centuries at Edgbaston, Australia’s once-golden boy could barely have conjured a more emphatic return to the Test arena. He’s the first batsmen to score twin Ashes tons since Matthew Hayden in 2002, and with six hundreds in his last ten Ashes innings, only Bradman has recorded a more fruitful sequence, with seven centuries in as many matches either side of the Second World War.
Smith’s feats are potently Bradman-esque, virtually unprecedented in the modern era, and having equalled Steve Waugh as the third-most prolific ton-notcher in Ashes history, the former Australia skipper responded by saying: “He seems to have an answer for everything. He’s an incredible player, don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like him.” I don’t think anyone has.
If one were to predict the velocity of this encounter having studied the overnight scorecard after day three, then it would be fair to say that England were still operating from a position of relative strength – the Aussies had a slim lead of 34 and the top-order had been largely dismantled.
Day four saw Australia declare on 487/7, having opened up a lead of 397. Smith’s second century of the match was complemented expertly by Matthew Wade’s swashbuckling efforts, and England were made to suffer at the hands of Australia’s tail once again – James Pattinson (47*) and Pat Cummins (26*) both having some fun before the late declaration. England’s batsmen survived three overs of Nathan Lyon and four from the seamers in the latter knockings, finishing on 13/0, but Smith remained the talking point as the match edged towards its gripping fifth-day finale.
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Today the Aussie batters opened their arms a little more, and the brisk rate in which Smith and his supporting cast piled on the runs left England with minimal chance of recording a victory. The home side just could not match the unerring consistency and excruciatingly concentrated presence of the 30-year old. In-depth analyses of his batting performances can point to numerous explanations as to why is he so immovable, but the crux of the issue remains the same – try as you might, you just cannot get this man out, such is his abnormally efficacious approach. You can give the imperious Kohli a few to swish at outside off stump early in his innings if you want to expose any possible weak spots in the India skipper’s game, but how do you approach dislodging Australia’s unconventional enigma?
His technique may be awkward and unorthodox, shuffling and twitching amidst an aura of discomfort, but idiosyncrasies aside, Smith is the most fervent run-getter on the planet.
Jonny Bairstow summing up England’s day perfectly.#ashes pic.twitter.com/vAbY2p2dgF
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 4, 2019
Joe Denly and Moeen Ali both generated serious spin from the foot-holes, but the turn was negated with startling ease. Smith played and missed just nine times on the way to his 150-ball century, and he formed a dominant 126-run partnership with Wade, who waltzed to three figures himself for the first time in Tests in six and a half years. Wade paddled splendidly, struck fiercely and scored at a healthy rate – a welcome contribution from Australia’s number six, bolstering a middle-order that has floundered more regularly than not in recent times.
His success story will remain a more hidden narrative, however, as former captain Smith once again exemplified greatness on the biggest Test match stage. Smith invigorated his batting partners. Both Travis Head, who reached fifty, and Wade, were in need of runs to ensure that their places in the side remained certain, and that they did.
England had toiled for hours to no avail, Smith not even offering a chance. He was stupendous from the outset, clawing the match’s momentum back in his side’s favour. A slender lead rapidly became a formidable deficit for England to overcome, and you could sense the overwhelming frustration that was mounting in the stands and amongst the fielders. Smith has long been a thorn in England’s side, but in 2019, with his timely in-form return, he has become more of a sharp dagger into Root’s flank.
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This time, the new ball happened to be his comeuppance, when Woakes had him nicking off for a stunning 142. A loose drive that flew into Barstow’s mitts proved that he is in fact still human. Smith, grimacing, trudged back to the pavilion as if he’d just been snared for a single-figure score, indicative of his other-worldly standards, lamenting his current weakness of not being able to convert his 140s into double-tons.
An upturned bottom lip, accompanied by a nod and an appreciative clap, has long been the mode of expression amongst ardent cricket lovers when an overseas player puts on a masterclass on their home shores. It’s the appreciation of class, acknowledgement for their efforts within the parameters of cricket’s universal standards. Contrastingly, Smith’s success seems to evoke fear and a sense of the ominous unknown amongst England’s supporters. The booing certainly hasn’t paid dividends.
