Steve Smith roared back into form with a remarkable century against India in the third Border-Gavaskar Test at Brisbane. After enduring criticism for a series of low scores, Smith silenced his detractors with a composed 101 off 190 deliveries. His partnership with Travis Head proved pivotal, propelling Australia to a dominant position by the end of Day 2.
Smith Breaks the Century Drought
Smith’s century marked his first in 24 Test innings, the last one coming during the Ashes against England. Reflecting on his performance, Smith admitted the relief of reaching three figures after a long wait. “It’s just nice to get to three figures. It’s been a while,” Smith said after the day’s play.
Acknowledging his struggles in the earlier matches, he explained how sticking to his processes helped him weather the tough phases. “I’ve been batting nicely over the past month. A couple of dismissals didn’t go my way earlier in the series, but I trusted my methods, and luckily, it turned around today,” he added.
Early Wobbles for Australia
Resuming at 28/0 after a rain-affected first day, Australia faced early trouble when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed both openers in the first session. At 75/3, the hosts appeared vulnerable, with India threatening to seize control. However, Smith and Travis Head steadied the ship, crafting a game-changing partnership.
A 231-Run Masterclass
Smith and Head added 231 runs for the fourth wicket, a stand that put Australia firmly in the driver’s seat. Head, in blistering form, smashed 152, his second consecutive century of the series. Smith marveled at Head’s ability to dominate bowlers and praised his range as a batter.
“The way Travis takes on bowlers from the outset is incredible. He scores in areas where it’s hard to set fields. Even when they place a deep point, he somehow finds a way to hit past it,” Smith noted.
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A Partnership That Revived Memories
Smith compared the partnership to last year’s ICC World Test Championship Final against India, where he and Head had also played crucial roles. “It felt a lot like the WTC Final. Travis came out firing, and I was able to play second fiddle. It was a great day,” he said.
Smith also highlighted how Head’s aggressive approach puts pressure on bowlers and accelerates the scoring rate. “The scoreboard moves quickly when you’re batting with him. Even in the sheds, we were laughing about how fast things unfolded today,” Smith shared.
Australia Takes Control
By stumps, Australia had amassed 405 runs, losing seven wickets in the process. With a formidable total on the board and Smith back in form, the hosts hold a significant advantage in the match.
Smith’s century not only ended his prolonged dry spell but also reminded the cricketing world of his class and resilience. The Brisbane Test has become a showcase of Australia’s batting depth, with Travis Head emerging as a game-changer once again.
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