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November 25, 2019 | Empowerment

A Steve Smith that is brilliant double a disastrous day in the field for England and century. Here is the pick of the activity in Old Trafford… Steve Smith struck a twice as Australia captured control of the Ashes Test with a dominant batting display on day two at Old Trafford, writes Sam Drury. SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED Having reached his Ashes century just when replays showed that Jack Leach had overstepped, Smith edged to slip on 118 but was gifted a second chance. This was the very first no-ball of this left-arm spinner’s global career and it proved a costly one as Smith went on to make his next Test match double ton – all three of these having come against England – before he eventually fell for 211 midway through the evening session. Smith has scored the most Test runs this calendar year with 589 runs in four innings, exceeding. With runs dripping from the first five overs after lunch and with the new ball around the corner, Leach delivered down a delicious delivery – chucked up and turning off – enticing Smith to a driveway that grabbed the border and flew low into the palms of Stokes in the slides. As the Australian batsman walked off, livid with having neglected to push after reaching his century of this Ashes series, a dread washed over the England side and the audiences in Manchester since the third umpire. The delight for the hosts soon turned to groans, together using replays revealing no portion of the spinner’s foot was behind the line, earning Smith a reprieve, along with the England side a volley in their captain – perhaps reminding his side just how essential it is to take the chances that fall to them. Until he was ignored for 211, smith went to your score a 93 runs. How badly did the afternoon session hurt England’s Ashes opportunities? It was after lunch the most damage was done, Even though Jofra Archer had been not able to pull off a challenging return catch throughout the morning after Smith was on 68. Only four balls to the second semester, a wide ball from Stuart Broad was driven by Tim Paine, on nine at the moment, straight to the waiting hands of Jason Roy at next slip only for the England man to spill some easy take – the ball ricocheting off his right hand to his left wrist and then, agonisingly for the hosts, onto the turf. A mere 27 balls later, another life was seen by Leach’s no-ball by giving his team a full-volleyed pep talk following their sloppy start to the session along with the England captain reacted. However, Root’s words didn’t have the desired effect as Archer was denied a first wicket in the match once Paine, on 49 and desperate to deliver up his first half-century in 11 Tests, pulled a brief ball from outside off stump to substitute fielder Sam Curran at straight mid-wicket only for the all-rounder to set down the other easy opportunity. It was not just a possibly match-turning session, that saw Australia score 124 runs as Smith continued to rack up the runs alongside his skipper Paine, without losing a wicket, but one that might have gone a long way. Isa Guha:”He [Smith] missed the last Test with concussion and wished to come back and show everyone precisely what he is capable of. This was a statement of intent. “There was audacity about a few of his shots through the covers; he does not miss out against the awful ball. There was a catchy time in the morning against Jofra Archer when he wafted in a couple out off-stump but was it, actually.” Michael Atherton:”England had settled, really, for enabling Smith to eliminate strike by giving him that easy tuck in the legside – then were happy to bowl whoever was at the other end. That’s alright but it is a pretty damning indictment when you get to that point when you’re bowling without feeling as if you’re able to get a man out. That’s the genius of Steve Smith at the moment.” Shane Warne:”Smith’s kind is unbelievable. He played with with some shots although I really don’t think he has been today. England have hunted for different methods to catch him out” Watch every day three of the fourth Ashes Test live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Ashes in 10am on Friday. You might also follow over-by-over comment and in-play clips onto our rolling site on skysports.com and the Sky Sports program. Read more here: http://midriks.com/?p=2390

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