SUPER SMITH ON 131, OZ ALL OUT FOR 338
Australia are all out for 338 in Sydeny after Steve Smith’s magnificent innings ended when he was run out for 131.
It took a remarkable piece of fielding by Indian Ravindra Jadeja to dismiss the former Aussie Test captain on day two of the Third Test. After a long stay in the 90s, Smith brought up Test ton number 27 when Australia needed him most. The Test century is Smith’s first in 16 months.
Earlier in the day, India landed three significant blows just before the lunch break to claw their way back into the match, including the dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne (91) and Cameron Green for a duck. But with Smith at the crease, the third Test is delicately poised with the series locked at 1-1.
The former captain looked far more positive at the SCG in comparison to the two previous Tests and brought up his 50 when he took Ravichandran Ashwin down the ground.
He also played the shot of the morning with a glorious cover drive for four off Jasprit Bumrah. Smith had not scored a Test hundred since his Ashes-sealing double century at Old Trafford in September 2019.
He has failed to reach triple figures in 14 Test innings since then — the longest drought he has endured since bringing up his first ton in 2013 and asserting himself as one of the world’s best.
But Smith was determined to impress at his home ground, with wife Dani posting a hilarious video of the superstar dressed in full Test whites shadow batting the night before the Third Test.
Matthew Wade, meantime, has been panned by Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh after the veteran’s loose stroke triggered a collapse of 4-46 at the SCG.
Australia were in the box seat to post an imposing total during the morning session on day two of their third Test against India, having cruised to 3-232.
Wade’s skied edge, coming when he looked to clatter a boundary off spinner Jadeja in the 77th over as the tourists prepared to take the second new ball in the shadows of
lunch, dramatically shifted momentum. Green and Pat Cummins were dismissed for ducks either side of lunch, while Bumrah made a mess of Tim Paine’s stumps to remove the skipper for one.
Former Test skipper Ponting felt Wade should have dug in and ensured he was not out during s meal
break.
“Wade needs to have a lot more game awareness,” Ponting said in commentary on Seven.
“Wade has been opening in the last couple of Test matches, so the new ball is not going to faze him. “What he’s done by getting out is expose Cameron Green to the new
ball, a guy in his third Test, and for mine that is just not thinking enough about the situation of the game.
“Wade had to make sure he was there when the new ball came out.” Waugh, calling the game for Fox Sports, suggested Wade had gifted India his wicket.
“It’s a poor dismissal. It’s the same as Melbourne,” Waugh said.
“It’s good to be aggressive but if the ball is not there then you’ve got to pull out of the shot.
“It was a nothing dismissal, you’ve got to do better than that.”