A Steve Smith double century and also a day in the field for England. Here is the selection of the activity out of Old Trafford…
As Australia captured control of the Ashes Test at Old Trafford using a dominant batting screen on day two, steve Smith hit on a brilliant double hundred, writes Sam Drury.
SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED
Having reached his Ashes century just when replays revealed that Jack Leach had overstepped, Smith edged to slide 118 but had been gifted a second chance.
It was the very first no-ball of the left-arm spinner’s global career and it proved a costly one as Smith went on to create his third Test game double ton — three of these come from England — until he finally fell for 211 midway throughout the day session.
Smith has scored the most Test runs with 589 runs in four innings, exceeding Ben Stokes, who currently has 513 runs from 12 innings.
With runs dripping from the first five overs after lunch and with the new ball around the corner, then Leach delivered down a tasty delivery — tossed up and spinning off — tempting Smith to a drive that caught the border and flew low into the hands of Stokes in the slides.
A terror washed on the audiences and also the England side in Manchester since the third umpire assessed about the as the batsman walked , livid with having failed to push after attaining his third century of the Ashes series.
The delight for those hosts soon turned to groans, together using replays demonstrating no part of the spinner’s foot was behind the ground, earning Smith a reprieve, and the England side a volley in their captain — perhaps reminding his side how crucial it is to take the chances that fall into them. Smith went on to your score a 93 runs until he was eventually ignored for 211.
How badly did England’s Ashes chances damage? Although Jofra Archer’d been unable to pull off a hard return catch throughout the afternoon when Smith was on 68 it was after lunch the most significant harm was done.
Just four balls to the second session, a wide ball from Stuart Broad was driven by Tim Paine, on nine in the time, straight to the waiting hands of Jason Roy at next slide only for the England man to spill some simple shoot — the ball ricocheting off his right hand in his left wrist then, agonisingly for its hosts, onto the turf.
A mere 27 chunks later, a second life was seen by the no-ball of Leach by giving his team a full-volleyed pep talk after their sloppy start to the semester, along with the England captain reacted.
But, Root words didn’t have the desired result as Archer was refused a first wicket in the game when Paine, on 49 and distressed to bring up his very first half-century at 11 Tests, pulled a brief ball from outside off stump to substitute fielder Sam Curran at right mid-wicket only for the all-rounder to set down another simple opportunity.
It wasn’t only a session, which saw Australia score 124 runs since Smith continued to rack up the runs along with his skipper Paine, without losing a wicket, but one which may have gone a very long way.
Isa Guha:»He [Smith] overlooked the final Test with concussion and wanted to come back and show everyone exactly what he’s capable of. This was a statement of intent.
«There clearly was audacity about some of his shots throughout the covers; he still does not miss out from the awful ball. There was a catchy time in the morning session against Jofra Archer if he wafted in a couple out off-stump but that was it, actually.»
Michael Atherton:»England had settledreally, for enabling Smith to get off strike by giving him that easy tuck in the legside — then were pleased to bowl at whoever was in the other end. That is alright but it is a fairly damning indictment when you get to that stage without feeling like you can find out a guy when you’re bowling. That is the genius of Steve Smith at the moment.»
Shane Warne:»Smith’s kind is unbelievable. I really don’t think he’s been quite at his very best now but he played with some shots. England have hunted for different tactics to catch him out»
Watch day three of the fourth Ashes Test reside on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Ashes September 6, in 10am on Friday.
You might even follow over-by-over commentary and in-play clips on our rolling site on skysports.com along with the Sky Sports program.
