If it all ended tomorrow, Steve Smith will be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman: Ricky Ponting

Steve Smith Century. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)

Ricky Ponting lavished praises on Australia batter Steve Smith, calling him the second-greatest batter produced by the country after the legendary Don Bradman. Ponting’s comments came ahead of Smith’s 100th Test match for the country. Dubbed as a modern-day ‘GOAT’, Smith will touch the three-figure mark in the third Ashes Test between England and Australia at Headingley.

Smith will register his name in the elite list of Australians who have played in at least 100 Test matches, becoming the 14th Aussie cricketer to achieve the landmark. The outstanding hitter has scored 9,113 runs at an astounding average of 59.56, and Ponting believes that Smith’s accomplishments and credentials place him on the list of all-time greats in addition to making him a modern-day great.

While speaking to Daily Mail with former England skipper Nasser Hussain, Ponting said:

“If it all ended tomorrow he’d be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman. Statistically, you cannot argue with that. He’s achieving things so quickly.”

Smith just passed the 9000-run milestone in Test cricket, becoming the second-fastest player to do so. After an average outing in the Edgbaston Test, Smith bounced back stronger and notched up a century in the first innings of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. He also won the Player of the Match award for his knock as Australia clinched a 43-run victory.

With a 2-0 lead over the hosts, Australia will now be looking for a victory in the upcoming third Test that is scheduled to take place at Headingley on July 6, Thursday. A win in this game would ensure that Australia retain the Ashes urn. England managed to put up a brilliant fight in the recently concluded game riding on skipper Ben Stokes’ knock.

Leading from the front, Stokes notched up a brilliant century and finished with a score of 155 runs off 214 deliveries. His knock was studded with nine fours and as many sixes as he set the tone for England’s victory before giving away his wicket to Josh Hazelwood. Stokes’ wicket put curtains on England’s innings as the rest of the batting unit came falling down, handing Australia a win.