On August 5, 2019, Steve Smith achieved the milestone of becoming the fifth Australian cricketer to score centuries in both innings of an Ashes Test. His legendary knock helped Australia clinch a resounding victory against England in the opening Test in Birmingham. It was one of those knocks that defined why he is regarded as one of the greatest Test batters since Don Bradman.
Visiting captain Tim Paine elected to bat first and it didn’t take long for him to regret his decision. Opener David Warner fell cheaply in the third over and a few overs later, Cameron Bancroft also departed without troubling the scoreboard much. They were reduced to 122-8 with Stuart Broad (5/86) and Chris Woakes (3/58) wreaking havoc.
However, the English pace duo failed to trouble the former Australian captain who remained rock-solid at the ceasefire despite losing his partners one by one at the other end. Smith stayed till the end and got his team out of trouble by scoring 144 runs and taking Australia’s first-innings score to 284.
Smith once again leads Australia’s rescue operation
England, in reply, posted 374 on the back of opening batter Rory Burns’ scintillating hundred (133 off 312). The hosts took a convincing lead and started proceedings in a similar fashion with the bowl, dismissing both Aussie openers cheaply. However, this time, their middle-order batters, led by Smith once again, put in a valiant effort.
While Usman Khawaja scored 40 runs, Travis Head contributed with a half-century. Smith slammed 142 off 207 balls, and he was well-supported by Matthew Wade, who scored 110 off 143 balls. Australia thus wiped out England’s lead of 90 and set a massive target of 398 runs.
The Aussies didn’t mess it up to bowl out the hosts for just 146 runs. Smith was adjudged Player of the Match for his incredible twin centuries in Australia’s 252-run victory. The five-match series ended in a draw 2-2 and Smith was named Player of the Series.
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