Kohli best, but Smith's knocks were just another level: Langer
Australian cricket team coach Justin Langer lauded Steve Smith for his superb knocks of 144 and 142 in the first Ashes 2019 Test at Edgbaston. Australia won the Test by 251 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Langer, who had earlier praised Virat Kohli as the best batsman, stated that Smith's Edgbaston knocks were just another level. Here's more.
Smith ruled the proceedings at Edgbaston
Smith's return to the red-ball cricket was the major headline of this Test. The senior cricketer ruled the proceedings with two match-winning centuries (144 and 142). Credit to Smith for making batting look so pleasing to the eye. His placements, timing and the way he absorbed pressure were the major attributes. His Test average of 62.96 shows why he is cut above the rest.
Smith scripted a host of Ashes records
Smith, with two tons, has amassed overall 1,116 runs in his past 10 Ashes innings. The senior cricketer also became the fifth Australian batsman to score hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test. He joined the likes of Warren Bardsley (1909), Arthur Morris (1946/47), Steve Waugh (1997) and Matthew Hayden (2002/03). Smith now has 10 career Ashes centuries in total.
Despite praising Kohli, Langer blown away by Smith's heroics
Kohli has dominated the cricket circuit since a while now. He has been regarded as the GOAT by several former cricketers including Michael Clarke. No wonder Kohli gained appreciation from Langer. But Smith's knocks were at another level. "I said during the summer that Virat Kohli is the best player I have ever seen but that [Smith's knocks] is just another level," said Langer.
Smith has all the traits of great players: Langer
"You have in different teams, different eras, great players but for someone like Smith, who's averaging over 60 and the way he played in this innings with all the pressure and everything that is on him, it was not only great skill but enormous character, enormous courage, very brave, unbelievable concentration, unbelievable physical stamina, unbelievable mental stamina, all traits of great players," Langer said.
England struggled to find answers against Smith
England struggled to find answers against Smith throughout the match. "You throw to him in the nets and you literally feel like you can't get him out and there's no batsman like that and you just end up throwing a million balls and you are just lost for answers. I guess you would have to ask England how they feel about that," said Langer.
