OTD Steve Smith’s twin centuries headlines Australia’s Edgbaston triumph in 2019

Steve Smith became the fifth Australian cricketer to make hundreds in both innings in an Ashes Test match on August 5, 2019.

In the first Test match in Birmingham, Australia defeated England handily because of his iconic innings. His reputation as one of the best Test batters since Don Bradman was cemented by one of those knocks.

This was a huge achievement as this was his first Test after the one-year ban for his role in a ball-tampering fiasco in South Africa ended. Smith had spent his time playing various T20 leagues and returned to the Australia squad for the 2019 Ashes amidst boos from the England crowd.

Tim Paine had won the toss and chosen to bat first in the first Test of the Ashes 2019 at Edgbaston and soon found himself in trouble as Australia were reduced to 122/8. But then Smith, who had held one end up as Stuart Broad ran riot with a five-wicket haul, found an able partner in Peter Siddle.

Smith rescued Australia with his 144 laced with 16 fours and two sixes, adding 88 runs for the ninth wicket with Siddle, who made 44 runs, as the visitors posted 284 runs in the first innings. England replied with 374 runs thanks to 133 from Rory Burns and fifties from Joe Root and Ben Stokes even as Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each.

After establishing a strong lead, England began the match on a high in the second innings, dismissing both Australian openers cheaply. But this time, they had a strong effort from their middle-order hitters, who were again led by Smith.

Travis Head made a half-century while Matthew Wade hit 110 off 143 balls, providing Smith strong support as the latter hammered 142 off 207 balls, his second ton in the game.  Australia went well past England’s 90-run lead and established a lofty 398-run target before folding the hosts for 146 runs on the back of Lyon’s 6/49 and Cummins’ 4/32 to win the match by 251 runs. Smith was named the Player of the Match for his 144 and 142.

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