Smith scores second century of Ashes opener as Australia build lead
Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test
Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test
Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test
Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test
Steve Smith scored his second century in his comeback Test after taking Australia into a significant lead in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Australia were 238 for 4 in their second innings at the end of 62nd over, 148 runs ahead. Smith was 104 not out following a superb 144 in the first innings of this match -- the former Australia captain's first Test since a 12-month ban for his role in last year's ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test -- Warren Bardsley (1909), Arthur Morris (1946/47), Steve Waugh (1997) and Matthew Hayden (2002/03).
England, a bowler down in the absence of the injured James Anderson, took just one wicket in the session, with Travis Head out for 51 after sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 130 with Smith that saw Australia into a lead of more than a hundred runs.
Only three times have a side made more than 150 in the fourth innings to win a Test at Edgbaston, with the highest such total South Africa's 283-5 in a five-wicket win 11 years ago -- the last time England lost at the Birmingham ground.
The match was in the balance when Australia resumed on 124-3, a lead of just 34 runs, with Smith 46 not and Head unbeaten on 21. Smith has now scored more than 1,000 runs in his past 10 Ashes innings.