Steve Smith has a very unorthodox technique. His high bat lift, his shuffling in the crease and his unique way of playing the drive, pull or leg glance has reaped rich dividends. Smith, who made a comeback in the Australian team after being suspended for one year due to the ball-tampering scandal, showed that his batting has not suffered much as he smashed two centuries in the Edgbaston Test. Smith averages 62 and has hit 10 tons against England in Ashes contest but in the Lord's Test, he showcased yet another style of his batting.
England had taken four Australian wickets on the third day of the Lord's Test after England were bowled out for 258. However, Smith showed his class as he weathered the swing and seam of Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad. Smith showed his mettle as he left balls in his own unique style. Smith danced in the crease, brought his bat down like a samurai sword and generally enthralled the Lord's crowd with his batting.
Smith's feat of scoring two tons in the same Test has helped him surge to number three in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen. He has also gone past 900 points and he is behind Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, who both have 922 and 913 points respectively. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon's nine wickets in the match have lifted him six spots to the 13th position among bowlers. Pacer Pat Cummins has consolidated his top position with a seven-wicket match haul that helped him reach a career-best 898 rating points, the third-best for an Australia bowler in the past 50 years after Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
Speaking after scoring his century in the first innings, Smith had said he did not believe he would play cricket again during the 15 months he was away from the game. "There were times throughout the last 15 months where I didn't know if I was ever going to play cricket again. I lost a bit of love for it at one point, particularly when I had my elbow operation. It was really bizarre that it was the day I got the brace off my elbow, I found a love for it again. I don't know what it was, it was like a trigger that just said 'right I'm ready to go again, I want to play and I want to go out and play for Australia and make people proud and just do what I love doing'," Smith said.
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HIGHLIGHTS
- Steve Smith has hit 10 Ashes centuries against England.
- Steve Smith averages 62 in Tests currently.
- Australia lead the five-match Ashes series 1-0.
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