Whats New

November 25, 2019 | Empowerment

A Steve Smith double century and also a day in the area for England. Here’s the selection of the activity from Old Trafford… Steve Smith struck a brilliant double hundred as Australia captured control of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford with a dominant batting display in the last two, writes Sam Drury. SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED Having reached his Ashes century just Smith edged to slip on 118 but had been gifted a second chance when replays revealed that Jack Leach’d overstepped. This was the very first no-ball of the left-arm spinner’s international career and it proved an expensive one as Smith went to create his third Test game double ton – all three of them come against England – until he eventually dropped for 211 midway through the day session. Smith has scored the most Test runs this calendar year using 589 runs in four innings, surpassing. With runs leaking from the first five overs after lunch and together using the new ball round the corner, then Leach sent down a delicious delivery – chucked up and turning off – inviting Smith to a drive that caught the border and flew low into the palms of Stokes in the slips. As the batsman walked off, livid with having neglected to push after reaching his century of this Ashes series, a horror washed on the England side and also the spectators in Manchester. The delight for those hosts soon turned to groans, together with replays showing no component of the spinner’s foot was supporting the line, making Smith a reprieve, and the England side a volley from their captain – possibly reminding his side how crucial it’s to take the probabilities that fall to them. Smith went to your score a further 93 runs until he was dismissed for 211. How badly were England’s Ashes opportunities damage by the day semester? It was which the most damage was done although Jofra Archer had been not able to pull a difficult return catch when Smith was on 68. Just four balls to the second semester, a wide ball from Stuart Broad was pushed by Tim Paine, on nine in the time, straight to the waiting hands of Jason Roy at next slide just for the England man to spill a very simple take – the ball ricocheting off his right hand into his left wrist and then, agonisingly for the hosts, on the turf. A mere 27 balls afterwards, the no-ball of Leach watched a life handed to Australia by giving his staff a full-volleyed pep talk after their start to the semester, along with the England captain responded. But, Root’s words did not have the desired effect as Archer was denied a first wicket in the match when Paine, on 49 and desperate to bring up his first half-century in 11 Tests, even pulled a brief ball from outside off stump to substitute fielder Sam Curran at directly mid-wicket only for the all-rounder to set down the other simple opportunity. It was not just a potentially match-turning session, which found Australia score 124 runs since Smith continued to rack up the runs along with his skipper Paine, without losing a wicket, but one which might have gone a very long way to deciding the fate of this urn. Isa Guha:”He [Smith] missed the final Test with concussion and wanted to return and show everyone exactly what he’s capable of. This is an announcement of intent. “There was audacity about some of his shots throughout the covers; he does not miss out from the awful ball. There was a catchy time from the morning against Jofra Archer if he wafted at a few out off-stump but was it, actually.” Michael Atherton:”England had depended really, for allowing Smith to get off attack by giving him that easy tuck into the legside – then were happy to bowl at whoever was in the other end. That is alright but it is a fairly damning indictment if you get to this point without feeling like you can find out a guy when you’re bowling. That’s the genius of Steve Smith Right Now.” Shane Warne:”Smith’s kind is unbelievable. He has still played with some shots although I really don’t think he has been now. England have searched for different approaches to get him out.” Watch every day three of the fourth Ashes Test reside on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Ashes September 6, in 10am on Friday. You could also follow over-by-over comment and in-play clips on our rolling site on skysports.com along with the Sky Sports program. Read more here: http://midriks.com/?p=2390

Browse by category