Steve Smith’s complete dominance over England has gone to a new level with the former Australian skipper scoring another brilliant century in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Having carved out a brilliant 144 to rescue his side in the first innings, Smith once again proved a class above an England attack badly missing the injured James Anderson, turning his overnight score of 46 into 142.
Smith completed his 25th Test ton with one of his more aesthetically pleasing shots, driving Stuart Broad between mid-off and extra cover for his 10th boundary in the second over after lunch.
Even the pro-England crowd and the Barmy Army withheld their boos to stand and applaud Smith.
The 30-year-old has now become the first batsman to score twin Ashes centuries since Matthew Hayden posted 197 and 103 in Brisbane in the opening Test of the 2002-03 series, and the first in 22 years to achieve the feat in England after Steve Waugh’s 108 and 116 at Old Trafford.
Here’s how the cricket world reacted on Twitter:
The Best Test Match Batsman I have seen … That’s during my time playing & watching the game is @stevesmith49 … This guy is a genius … !! #OnOn #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 4, 2019
What an absolute genius this bloke is 😍 @stevesmith49 #insmudgewetrust #cmonaussies #doubleup #startagain
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) August 4, 2019
Respect…incredible resilience , skill and above all mental strength. @stevesmith49 twin 💯‘s #Ashes
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) August 4, 2019
Century in both innings. After staying away from cricket for long…..hope nobody is booing him anymore. Only appreciation. Applaud. Modern Day Great. #TheAshes
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 4, 2019
What a way to come back into Test cricket 🏏 Steve Smith keep going!! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/qHDVvto9wG
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) August 4, 2019
Steve Smith is a great player obviously, but more than that, he has incredible mental strength & resilience. He is single-handedly taking this game away from us. #Ashes19 pic.twitter.com/ue9SlxppfQ
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 4, 2019
Special Smith, legendary status for the Aussie 👏 never mind the pressure, this man is familiar with big games 🏏 congratulations on another @stevesmith49 💯#ENGvAUS #Ashes19
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) August 4, 2019
Steve Smith: Test batsman: Peerless in his generation.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) August 4, 2019
144 & 142 in 1st Test over a year for Steve Smith. English booed and Smith made them cry 😂. Made the bat talk. batted Champion @stevesmith49 👏 #Ashes
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 4, 2019
I’ve been fortunate enough to see some pretty decent Ashes knocks up close. These two from Steve Smith, however, are definitely up there with the best I’ve ever seen. One of the great Test Match performances.#Ashes
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) August 4, 2019
In just 3 days time boos have transformed into a standing ovation. That's what geniuses like Steve Smith can do. Magnificent knock #Ashes19
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) August 4, 2019
The only time Steve Smith acknowledged the Hollies Stand, walking off for 142. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/POGRio7e9d
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 4, 2019
Great fight back from Aust. Another 100 runs puts them as favourites to win from there.Smith freakish!
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) August 4, 2019
Well done @stevesmith49..ton n each innings n Test Crkt is a rarity..but coming at a time when team needs it most is just fantastic..& now fr the contest to become a needle some more effort is required by rest o OZ batting-But how could they leave out #MitchelStarc & #Hazlewood?
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 4, 2019
Two 140+ scores in same Test
150* & 153 – Allan Border v Pak (Lahore) 1980
142 & 199* – Andy Flower v SAf (Harare) 2001
162 & 143 – T Dilshan v Ban (Chittagong) 2009
144 & 142 – Steve Smith v Eng (Birmingham) 2019 – first in an #Ashes Test#Ashes19#EngvAus #EngvsAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 4, 2019
