Steve Smith produced a defiant unconquered century and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets to leave England reeling as Australia cracked open the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Saturday
Our Smith plans are working, says Broad
Australia’s batsman Steve Smith (centre) celebrates his epic century on the third day of the first Ashes Test against England. —
brisbane — Steve Smith produced a defiant unconquered century and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets to leave England reeling as Australia cracked open the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Saturday.
The Australian skipper played one of his greatest Test knocks with an unbeaten 141, forged over eight and a half hours, to deliver his team a 26-run lead over the tourists on the third day.
Paceman Hazlewood compounded the tourists’ woes with the wickets of Alastair Cook (7) and James Vince (2) in his opening two overs before a nasty Mitchell Starc lifter thundered into Joe Root’s helmet grille late in the day.
At the close with two days left, England were hanging on in a torrid ending to the day at 33 for two, leading by just seven runs with Root, on five, and Mark Stoneman, on 19, at the crease.
England captain Root did everything to remove the obdurate Smith with ‘Bodyline’-style field placings, but the world’s top-rated batsman laid waste to the tourists’ well-laid plans to give the Australians the advantage at the Gabba, where they haven’t lost a Test since 1988.
“I think we’re in a reasonable spot being around 30 in front — we didn’t look like we were going to get there for a while,” Smith said.
“It just meant a lot. Ashes series are always huge. As a captain, I want to lead from the front as much as I can with my performance and the way I bat. “All of it came out when I got to 100.”
Paceman Stuart Broad said England will get their chance on Sunday’s fourth day.
“The previous three days mean nothing if we don’t get it right tomorrow. It’s in our hands,” he said.
“If someone goes and plays a Steve Smith-type knock (that) gets the bowlers into their third and fourth spells tomorrow we’re in the driving seat.” It was an uncharacteristic knock by the shotmaker Smith, with his 21st Test century built on unwavering concentration and patience to defy all of England’s efforts to dislodge him.
When Australia’s first innings finally ended, Smith was still there after 326 balls over 514 minutes with 14 fours.
Smith — who averages 61.23 in 57 Tests but 72.46 as Test captain, second only to the great Don Bradman — consummated his indomitable hundred with a cover drive for four off Broad to a huge roar from the home crowd.
Smith effectively carried his team past England’s total, but needed resolute lower-order support from Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon as the last six wickets added 252 runs.
The fidgety Smith was tied down by meticulous England bowling and fielding after losing three batting partners in the morning session, before paceman Cummins joined him at 209 for seven in the 82nd over. —
Ponting picks flaws in batsman Khawaja
brisbane — Allowing the home captain to score an unbeaten century might not seem like ‘mission accomplished’ for an opposing team’s bowlers, but paceman Stuart Broad believes England have Steve Smith right where they want him in the series-opening Ashes Test.
Smith strolled off the Gabba with 141 after tea on day three, having pushed his team to 328 and a slender lead over England’s first innings 302.
England then lost two wickets to be 33 for two and leave an enthralling Test match still very much in the balance.
Having had to soak up 326 balls in his slowest ever century, Smith later said he was surprised at how defensive England captain Joe Root had set his fields and that he expected boundaries to be hard to come by further down the track.
All part of the plan, said Broad. — Reuters
Australia in front 302 (overnight 165-4) 26 5 11 141 14 51 13 6 42 6 9 4
Warner c Malan b Ball Bancroft c Bairstow b Broad Khawaja lbw b Ali Smith not out Handscomb lbw b Anderson Marsh c Anderson b Broad Paine c Bairstow b Anderson Starc c and b Broad Cummins c Cook b Woakes Hazlewood b Ali Lyon c Cook b Root
(lb1, w2, nb1) 1-7, 2-30, 3-59, 4-76, 5-175, 6-202, 7-209, 8-275, 9-298, 10-328. Anderson 29-10-50-2, Broad 25-10-49-3, Ali 30-8-74-2, Woakes 24-5-67-1, Ball 18-3-77-1 (1nb 2w), Root 4.3-0-10-1 Cook c Starc b Hazlewood Stoneman not out Vince c Smith b Hazlewood Root not out
7 19 2 5 0
1-11, 2-17 Starc 5-1-14-0, Hazlewood 5-1-112, Cummins 3-2-1-0, Lyon 3-0-7-0