Ashes 2019: Steve Smith continues to pile misery on England
Steve Smith keeps taking his game to another level in Test cricket. There is no doubt that the celebrated Aussie batsman is the best in the longest format. After having notched scores of 144 and 142 in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Smith was dismissed for 92 at Lord's. He had to retire hurt earlier after being struck twice. Here's more.
Smith has already amassed 378 runs so far in three innings. In a rain-hit second Test, Smith battled on for the Aussies to help them get closer towards England's first innings total. Australia were 102/5 at one stage, but Smith has seen the side get past 200. His 60-run stand with skipper Tim Paine (23) was a crucial moment in the match.
Smith suffered the first injury when a rising ball from Jofra Archer struck his forearm. He was writhing in pain and had to bandage his arm. Despite batting on, a few moments later, Archer's short ball felled Smith. The right-handed batsman was lying flat on his back before getting up to applause from the crowd. He couldn't continue though and retired hurt.
This was the seventh successive score of fifty-plus for Smith against England in Tests. His scores in the last seven innings read 239, 76, 102*, 83, 144, 142 and 92. He also went past 6,500 runs in Test cricket (6,577). The star cricketer also amassed his 25th career Test fifty. Smith now has 2,404 runs in Ashes. This was his seventh career Ashes fifty.
Smith returned back to the field after Peter Siddle was dismissed for nine. The supporters were on their feet applauding the batsman as he entered the field. Smith came in and smashed two successive boundaries off the second and third ball he faced after coming on. He was dismissed by Chris Woakes. It was an absolute classy inning from the consistent run-scorer.
