Steve Smith has put himself second to Don Bradman for Test centuries scored in England by a customer after persevering with his London love affair within the World Test Championship closing in opposition to India.
Smith was bowled earlier than lunch on Thursday for 121, however not earlier than he helped Australia take management with the rating at 7-422 after the primary session of day two at Lord’s.
Travis Head additionally fell early within the session, caught behind to a Mohammed Sirj (2-106) quick ball down legside for 163 after a 285-run stand with Smith.
That prompted a mini-collapse of 4-41 as wickets fell round Alex Carey (22no), leaving the door ajar for India to combat again into the match.
Smith’s century was the thirty first of his profession and his seventh in England, with solely Bradman having scored extra as a visiting participant within the nation together with his 11.
London has at all times been form to Smith.
He debuted at Lord’s in 2010, and kickstarted his avalanche of runs together with his first Test ton at The Oval in 2013.
He now has three centuries on the floor, and seems hellbent on serving to Australia raise the Ashes urn there with a primary collection win in England in 22 years subsequent month.
If Smith continues to bat as he did in opposition to India on Wednesday and Thursday, Australia will fancy their probabilities.
After resuming on 95, he took two balls to carry up his century when he clipped each deliveries to the legside boundary off Siraj.
The 34-year-old drove exactly, and constructed his knock with the type of dedication to stay on the crease he displayed all through his dominant 2019 Ashes.
England’s gamers have spent this week on a golf journey in Scotland forward of the Ashes, however they’d little question have Smith on their thoughts.
It was Smith who seemingly bought himself out, chopping on a ball from outdoors off stump off Shardul Thakur (2-83) after a drinks break to finish his 268-ball keep.
If Smith was affected person, Head was explosive.
After he resumed on 145, he moved to 163 with a slash outdoors off stump and two pull-shot boundaries as India continued to bounce him.
India imagine they’ve discovered a weak spot there for each them and England to reveal, and whereas Head was ultimately caught behind making an attempt to drag, it took 163 runs to take away him.
Cameron Green adopted Head when caught driving at slip off Mohammed Shami (2-102), earlier than Mitchell Starc was run out by Axar Patel making an attempt a fast single on seven.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
