TON OF DIFFERENCE IN STAYING POWER OF SMITH AND ROOT

THE contrast between the captains was telling, too. Steve Smith almost singlehandedly held Australia together on day three with his unbeaten 141 not out, while Joe Root made 15 and 51 — falling lbw on both occasions. SINCE scoring his first Test 100 at The Oval in 2013, Smith has converted an incredible 21 of his 37 half-centuries into three figures. Root’s second-innings 50 highlighted that difference between the two — he has turned only 13 of his 46 Test half-centuries into 100s.