Steve the Unstoppable: Smith completes rare Ashes double
Steve Smith’s complete dominance over England has gone to a new level with the Australian scoring another brilliant century in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Smith backed up his magnificent 144 in the first innings with Test century No.25 over the weekend in his comeback to Test cricket having been sidelined for the past 16 months.
A textbook cover drive off England paceman Stuart Broad brought up the milestone as he removed his helmet, saluted his teammates and received a hug from teammate Matt Wade.
Even the pro-England crowd and the Barmy Army withheld their boos to stand and applaud Smith.
The 30-year-old is the first batsman to score twin Ashes centuries since Matthew Hayden posted 197 and 103 in Brisbane in the opening Test of the 2002-03 series, and the first in 22 years to achieve the feat in England after Steve Waugh’s 108 and 116 at Old Trafford.
He is now a member an exclusive club of just five Australians to score twin centuries in an Ashes Test, joining Hayden, Waugh, Arthur Morris (Adelaide, 1947) and Warren Bardsley (The Oval, 1909).
AUSTRALIANS TO SCORE TONS IN BOTH INNINGS OF AN ASHES TEST
Steve Smith – 144 and 104* at Edbgaston, 2019
Matthew Hayden – 197 and 103 at the Gabba, 2002
Steve Waugh – 108 and 116 at Old Trafford, 1997
Arthur Morris – 122 and 124* at Adelaide, 1947
Warren Bardsley – 136 and 130 at The Oval, 1909
Smith’s second innings hundred also takes his tally of Ashes tons to 10, equal second with Waugh for the most by an Australian.
Sir Donald Bradman, naturally, has the most for either nation with 19.
And if those achievements were not impressive enough, the right-hander now holds the record for most runs after 119 Test innings.
Smith’s 6446 career runs (and counting) eclipsed the mark of 6440 held by England legend Wally Hammond in 1939.
Smith walked to the crease inside the first 10 overs for the second time in the match on Saturday evening with the tourists in strife at 2-27 and trailing England by 63 runs.
Smith’s 6446 career runs (and counting) eclipsed the mark of 6440 held by England legend Wally Hammond in 1939.
Smith walked to the crease inside the first 10 overs for the second time in the match on Saturday evening with the tourists in strife at 2-27 and trailing England by 63 runs.
Source: cricket.com.au