A masterful double century from the prolific Steve Smith carried Australia to 497-8 declared against England on day two of the fourth Ashes series Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.
Smith returned to the XI after being ruled out of last week’s third Test at Headingley in Leeds due to a concussion. He had been struck on the side of the neck by a fierce short delivery from fast bowler Jofra Archer during the second Test at Lord’s in London.
The fidgety right-hander now has three double tons in Ashes series cricket – the third most after Australia’s Sir Donald Bradman and England’s Wally Hammond with eight and four, respectively.
Smith’s three highest scores in Test-match cricket are all against England. He was unable to surpass his 239 in Perth in 2017 and 213 at Lord’s in 2015, though.
He was eventually out for 211. This would have been substantially less, had Jack Leach not bowled a no-ball shortly after Smith reached three figures. Leach had Smith caught by slip fielder Ben Stokes, but overstepped the bowling crease.
Smith’s stay was particularly important after opener David Warner fell for a duck. Warner was in solid form during the Indian Premier League and World Cup earlier this year, but has a mere 79 runs in seven innings this series.
The South African-born Marnus Labuschagne’s impressive rise through the Australian ranks continued on Thursday. He welcomed a fourth successive half-century during a telling 116-run alliance with Smith.
England’s reply reached 23 for one by the close of play. Opener Rory Burns and nightwatchman Craig Overton will resume on Friday.
The five-match series is currently locked at 1-1. Australia won the series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham on the back of Smith’s successive centuries. The Lord’s match was drawn. The Leeds fixture was won by England, thanks largely to a sensational fourth-innings century from all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Photo: Gallo Images
