“Take Steve Smith out and we are very similar teams,” Joe Root's comment after the fourth Ashes Test tells you all about what Smith has achieved since his return from a year-long ban. On the other side, the Ashes scripted a very different story for his compatriot―David Warner. Warner who was the second top scorer in the ICC World Cup 2019 as well as the leading run-scorer of this year's Indian Premier League failed to stand up to expectations at the Ashes.
Warner's eight innings at the Ashes stand 2, 8, 3, 5, 61, 0, 0, 0―a total of 79 runs. While Warner's innings flatlined, Smith stands tall with figures of 144, 142, 92, 211 and 82―a total of 671 runs. In contrast Warner's total score from the four tests (79) is lesser than Smith's lowest innings score (82) this Ashes. The Ashes witnessed Australia's two leading batsmen stand remarkably apart in terms of their command. While one was relentless, insatiable and brimming with confidence, the other looked anything but menacing, with confidence eluding him. After all, Warner fell to Stuart Broad six times in the last eight innings, three of them coming as ducks in the last three innings. Broad is the most successful Test bowler against Warner, having dismissed him 11 times in total. Warner's wariness in facing Broad was evident, even leading Smith to admit that Warner admitted to Broad having the wood on him throughout the series. His six dismissals, one lbw, two caught behind and three bowled dismissals show how clueless Warner has been when facing Stuart Broad.
Smith, in contrast, has been playing in a parallel universe with very different batting conditions. His fluidity left the English bowlers to bite the dust. His heroics have led to Australia retaining the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years. The fact that the ball has been the dominant factor in the Ashes so far puts Smith's role in perspective. His efforts have seen him take the top position in the ICC World Test rankings, going past India's Virat Kohli.
With one more Test to go, Smith needs 304 runs to surpass Don Bradman's tally of 974 runs, the highest ever in a Test series. It is also noteworthy that Smith missed out on one Test and an innings to concussion. Had he played, he may well have passed Bradman's tally of 1,930 by now.
Steve Smith celebrates his century on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test match | AFP
Both batsmen have had to deal with the English crowd as well after the infamous ball-tampering scandal. While Smith was able to silence the crowd and even earn their respect, Warner has been anywhere but well-received. The wide chasm in their run tallies have made a mountain of a difference in the way they were greeted by the English crowd. While one has risen like a phoenix from the ashes to stamp his dominion over world cricket, the other well, has been reduced to ashes.
