BATS RUN HOT FOR AUSSIES

Labuschagne and Smith blaze tons as Australians look to seize initiative in second Test in Galle

BATTING brothers Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne ended centurymaking droughts and put Sri Lanka’s latest batch of spinners to the sword as Australia jumped out the blocks to assume control of the second Test in Galle.

Having gone more than 18 months and 16 innings without a Test ton, Smith dispelled any notion of a tumble down the pecking order of the world’s best batters with a chanceless innings to match then better Labuschagne’s own triple-figure score, which was his first hundred outside Australia.

Smith’s century came up via a blistering cover drive for four and with his helmet off he hugged batting partner Alex Carey as the Aussie fans who had made the trip to the island nation, in the grip of an economic crisis, blew horns in celebration.

The joy was evident with the hundred also just Smith’s second in Tests since his epic 211 at Old Trafford in the 2019 Ashes.

Smith was 109 not out at stumps with Carey (16 not out), and Australia 5-298 having won the toss and batted on a wicket captain Pat Cummins didn’t expect to have the “exaggerated” day one spin of the first Test, which prompted the Australians to abort a plan to play Glenn Maxwell.

Smith’s 28th Test century drew him equal with former captain Michael Clarke on the Australian list, but equally as important put him back on par with modern rival Joe Root who had leapfrogged the Aussie earlier in the week.

When that was pointed out prematch Smith said Root had played “a few more Tests than me”, knowing the Englishman did take 34 more matches to reach his 28 tons.

But vice-captain Smith had downplayed that as a motivating factor in Sri Lanka, instead keen to put his ugly run-out for six in the opening Test well and truly in the rear-vision mirror with a big score.

The century was also Smith’s second in his past four innings in Sri Lanka, having racked up 119 in Colombo in 2016, one of just two Australian hundreds in a series the tourists lost 3-0. Smith was adamant lessons learned from that tour included batters being “brave” in the subcontinent and while he didn’t get going in the first Test he was confident his plan would work.

“A lot of the batters that are here now were there in 2016 and have just got more experience, probably more credits under their belt in a way, where you can go out and play a little more freely and trust it,” he said.

Before Smith raised his bat, Labuschagne scored his first Test century in 11 innings, and seventh for his career.