Steve Smith doubles up as Australia declare on 497-8
Steve Smith scored a double hundred to propel Australia into a commanding position on day two of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
It was his third Test double – all have come against England incidentally – and the fifth highest Test score at Manchester.
England thought they had got their man before tea, when the world’s No.1 Test batsman edged to slip off Leach, only for replays to show the spinner had overstepped the mark for the first time in his Test career – only his sixth no-ball in first-class cricket.
Smith and Tim Paine batted brilliantly in the second session, with the former skipper reaching 150 and the current skipper 50, taking Australia to 369-5 at tea.
While Paine fell the first ball after the break to Overton, Smith continued to try to bat England out of the game, ably supported by the aggressive MitchellStarc, who bludgeoned his way to 50.
Smith eventually departed for 211, succumbing to a Joe Root leggie of all things – his reverse-sweep grappled at backward point – but by then the damage had been done. Australia declared on 497-8, giving themselves around an hour at England’s top order, if the light permits.
Full match report to follow after play
