Australia are in a robust place after day one of many World Test Championship Final.
After being despatched in by India and dropping Usman Khawaja for a duck, Australia completed the day at 3/327, with Travis Head 146 not out off 156 balls and Steve Smith 95 not out off 227 balls.
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India will want fast early wickets after the world was fooled by the inexperienced monster at The Oval, which supplied little exterior early motion for the quicks and Australia cashed in because the solar got here out.
Plays begins at 7.30pm AEST — How to look at the World Test Championship Final
7.35pm — India make it simple as Smith carry up hundred
Steve Smith wasted no time to carry up his thirty first hundred, dealing with simply two balls to carry up the milestone.
Starting at 95 and off strike, Travis Head hit a single on the primary ball earlier than Mohammed Siraj bowled again to again half volleys for Smith to punish each to the boundary.
In commentary, Matthew Hayden mentioned they had been the balls you’d dream of dealing with first up simply wanting yet one more hundred.
Smith turns into simply the third man to attain seven Test match centuries in England, becoming a member of Steve Waugh on seven, whereas Don Bradman remains to be forward of Smith with 11 tons of in opposition to the outdated enemy.
7pm — Steve Smith as we’ve not often seen him earlier than
Steve Smith was Australia’s rock on day one of many World Test Championship Final however whereas Travis Head was at his swashbuckling finest on the different, the Aussie vice-captain raised eyebrows.
Head made it appear like a batting paradise and whereas Smith acquired his solution to 95 not out at stumps, it was not at all simple going.
Although he completed the day robust, he struggled early, mentioning his half-century off 144 balls.
It’s a Smith we’re not used to seeing and raised eyebrows for former Aussie coach Justin Langer.
“The thing that I find most fascinating is that Steve Smith, one of the greatest players of this generation, is playing second fiddle role to Travis Head,” he mentioned.
“I mean that is how well Travis Head is playing here. He is the one who is shining. Steve Smith has faced 160 balls for 57 runs. Travis Head, 105 runs off 114 balls.
“Just goes to show how well Travis Head has gone about his business today.”
Harsha Bhogle quipped: “I suspect Travis Head might be playing first fiddle and second fiddle and Steve Smith is down in the orchestra somewhere.”
But whereas Smith wasn’t too comfy within the center, he did handle to go viral, exhibiting the outdated Steve Smith was nonetheless in there, pulling faces after leaving a ball from Mohammed Shami.
The ICC posted the video on Instagram, attracting 736,000 likes at time of writing.
If Smith can attain three figures on day two, it gained’t be his slowest century, however he’s proven as soon as once more his guts to dig in when it’s not coming simply to him.
It’s one of many causes for former Indian skipper Virat Kohli to call Smith “the best Test player of this generation.”
“He has displayed that, his adaptability is absolutely brilliant, you take any cricketer of this generation,” Kohli mentioned.
“Everybody knows his record, in 85-90 Tests, he has an average of 60 which is quite unbelievable. The consistency and impact with which he scores runs, I haven’t seen any Test player doing that in last 10 years. It is credit to his skill and temperament.”
Originally revealed as World Test Championship, Day 2 Live: Steve Smith brings up ton in two balls
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
