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Thursday March 28, 2024

3rd Test: Smith, Marsh put Aussies in driving seat

By AFP
December 17, 2017

PERTH, Australia: Rivals and team-mates alike were left in awe of Steve Smith after the world’s top-ranked Test batsman hit new heights in the third Ashes match against England at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

The Australian captain reached his highest Test score yet with his second double-century, passed 1,000 Test runs for the year and also notched his fastest Test century in an innings that appeared to shatter England’s resolve.

At stumps, Smith was on 229 not out, having faced 390 balls, hitting 28 fours and one six as his stellar year continued.

It was his second century of the series and he didn’t offer a single chance throughout.

The closest England came to seeing the back of the star right-hander were two unsuccessful third-umpire reviews after having leg before wicket appeals turned down.

English assistant coach Paul Farbrace said their best plans for the unorthodox Smith weren’t troubling him.

“Every team will talk about where to bowl to him,” he said.

“But the way he is playing at the moment, he gets into some awkward positions but he gets his head back into the ball and keeps the bat face open.

“He hits the ball from what seems likes strange positions, but he hits the middle of the bat on a consistent basis.

“We’ve tried all sorts, we’ve thought about our plans to him for some time, but we’ve come up against a player in the form of his life playing absolutely fantastically.”

Aged 28, Smith already has 22 centuries to his name from 107 Test knocks.

Only Don Bradman (58 innings) and Sunil Gavaskar (101 innings) have reached 22 Test centuries in fewer innings.

His current Test batting average is also second only to the legendary Bradman.

Smith and recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh carried the home side past the English first innings total Saturday with an unbroken 301-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Resuming on 92 at the start of play, Smith wasted little time raising century, reaching the mark from 138 balls — his fastest Test century in terms of balls faced.

Smith reached 200 by working Moeen Ali through mid-wicket for another single, having faced 301 balls. Marsh said Smith had an aura about him and he had sympathy for England’s predicament.

Score Board

England first innings

Cook lbw b Starc 7

Stoneman c Paine b Starc 56

Vince c Paine b Hazlewood 25

Root c Paine b Cummins 20

Malan c sub (Handscomb) b Lyon 140

Bairstow b Starc 119

Ali c Smith b Cummins 0

Woakes c Cummins b Hazlewood 8

Overton c Bancroft b Hazlewood 2

Broad c Bancroft b Starc 12

Anderson not out 0

Extras (b10, lb2, nb1, w1) 14

Total (all out; 115.1 overs) 403

Bowling: Starc 25.1-5-91-4, Hazlewood 28-9-92-3 (1nb), Cummins 28-8-84-2 (1w), Lyon 22-4-73-1, Marsh 9-1-43-0, Smith 3-1-8-0

Australia first innings

Bancroft lbw b Overton 25

Warner c Bairstow b Overton 22

Khawaja lbw b Woakes 50

Smith not out 229

S Marsh c Root b Ali 28

M Marsh not out 181

Extras (b2, lb10, nb1, w1) 14

Total (for four wickets; 152 overs) 549

Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Warner), 2-55 (Bancroft), 3-179 (Khawaja), 4-248 (S Marsh).

Bowling: Anderson 29-8-85-0 (1nb), Broad 28-3-112-0, Woakes 32-4-108-1 (1w), Overton 23-1-102-2, Ali 31-4-104-1, Root 3-0-13-0, Malan 6-1-13-0

Toss: England

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (SA), Chris Gaffaney (NZ)

TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)

Match referee: Richie Richardson (WI).