Birthday special: Steve Smith – Five best knocks of the Australian batting wonder
Steve Smith will qualify as arguably the greatest Test batsman of the modern era. He has featured in 77 Test matches for Australia and has scored 7540 runs at an unreal average of 61.80. The Australian batting behemoth has also plundered 27 centuries and 31 half-centuries as well in Test cricket.
In the ODI format too, the Aussie batting colossus has scored 4378 runs in 128 matches and averages 43.35. The right-hander has also scored 11 hundreds and 25 fifties in ODI cricket. Smith has also scored 794 runs in T20I cricket for the kangaroos at a strike rate of close to 130. As the Australian batting legend turns 32 today, let us take a look at the 5 best knocks from Smith’s blade in international cricket.
5) 105 vs India – ODIs
Steve Smith absolutely hammered the visiting Indian side on 27th November 2020 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Australia wielded the willow first, and the star performers with the bat for the kangaroos were Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. While Finch scored a sedate 124-ball 114, Smith pounded his way to a murderous 66-ball 105 that left the Indian bowlers helpless.
Smith’s innings was studded with 11 fours and 4 sixes, and he helped Australia post a gargantuan total of 374/6 on the board. In reply, even though Hardik Pandya scored a valiant 90, the Indian side could only manage to score 308/8 in their quota of 50 overs. Smith won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating performance with the blade.
4) 164 vs New Zealand – ODIs
On 4th December 2016 against the New Zealand side, Smith scored a masterly 164 off 157 deliveries. Coming in with the Aussie scorecard reading 1/1, Smith single-handedly decimated the Black Caps.
His marvellous century helped Australia post a total of 324 on the board. In fact, the next highest run-scorer for Australia after Smith was Travis Head, who scored 52. In reply, the New Zealand side was bowled out for 256. Even though Martin Guptill scored a 102-ball 114, he did not receive any support from his teammates, and Australia comfortably beat their opponents by 68 runs.
3) 192 vs India – Tests
Steve Smith was at the peak of his game during the 2014 Test series against India. And, in the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the master batsman scored a resplendent 192 off 305 deliveries and helped Australia pile up a total of 530 runs on the board. Smith scored 15 fours and 2 sixes in his knock.
India replied with a total of 465, with the legendary Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane scoring centuries. Australia scored 318 in their 2nd innings and set India a target of 384 for victory. India ended their second innings with their scorecard reading 174/6, and the match ended in a draw.
2) 215 vs England – Tests
Steve Smith etched his name in the Lord’s Honors Board by slamming a classic double century against the England side during the 2nd Ashes Test in the year 2015. Batting first, Australia piled up a total of 566 on the board. While opener Chris Rogers scored 173, Steve Smith flayed the England bowling attack and plundered 215 off 346 deliveries. In reply, England could only muster a total of 312, with Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood scalping 3 wickets each.
Australia declared their second innings with a commanding total of 254/2 and set England a mammoth target of 509 for victory. The England side produced a shambolic performance in the second innings with the bat and were bowled out for a total of just 103, as the kangaroos thrashed their opponents by 405 runs.
1) 239 vs England – Tests
The best knock from the willow of the Australian batting gladiator came in December 2017 at Perth during the third Ashes Test match between England and Australia. Batting first, England posted a challenging total of 403 on the board, with Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow slamming centuries.
In reply, it was the Steve Smith show that grabbed the limelight for the Australian side. The legendary right-hander scored a flawless 239 off 399 deliveries and forged a partnership of 301 runs for the 5th wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who scored 181. Smith scored 30 fours and a six in that knock and helped Australia post a total of 662 on the board.
Josh Hazlewood’s fiery spell flummoxed the England batsmen in the second essay. The right-arm pacer scalped a five-wicket haul, and England folded up for a total of just 218, as Australia won the match by an innings and 41 runs.
