Jofra Archer picked up a six wicket-haul as England bowled Australia out for 225 to gain the upper hand on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test on Friday despite another gritty knock from Steve Smith.
Joe Root’s side is desperate to level the series at 2-2 to end their historic World Cup-winning season on a high but have been consistently dogged by the peerless Smith.
The former Australian skipper has now amassed 751 runs in just six innings – more than double the tally of the next highest run-scorer on either side.
But he was forced to settle for his lowest score of the series (at 80) when Chris Woakes trapped him infront of the wickets in the evening session, leaving the English crowd dumbfounded.
Despite a late flurry of runs, the Aussies had to settle for a first-innings deficit of 69, with paceman Archer finishing with figures of 6-62.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Jofra Archer takes his second 6-for of the series. The first England bowler to take two 6 wicket hauls in the same Ashes series since Ian Botham in 1981. Full Ashes list: https://t.co/eiS65dNpLR
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) September 13, 2019
Jofra Archer is now averaging 17.27 for England in Test cricket. With a minimum of 20 wickets taken that is the sixth lowest ever for England and the lowest since Sydney Barnes who last played in 1914. Some start to his career. #Ashes
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) September 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1172470684943048704
It’s Smith vs England again!!! #TheAshes
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 13, 2019
Stunning way to finish the summer – watching one of the great sporting rivalries – Jofra Archer v Steve Smith. #Ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/G3HXmARidb
— Jeremy Snape (@thesportingedge) September 13, 2019
#SteveSmith an unbelievable run of striking rich scores, new standards of class, excellence , performance. Grit & determination the guiding mantra. Comparisons overflowing among pundits. @ICC the new champion has arrived. #Aussies wd be pumped up fr sure. Unparallel performance.
— Chaitanya K Prasad (@Chatty111Prasad) September 14, 2019
Steve Smith has hit 10 consecutive scores of 50 against England in Test match cricket!
No one has ever hit as many in a row against a single opposition 🔥
What an amazing player he is 👏 pic.twitter.com/Azh2PjJYyG
— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2019
Not one score below his shirt number 👏👏👏 #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/R98BJNJlBM
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 14, 2019
Most runs in 10 successive Ashes innings:
Steven Smith – 1251 runs (2017-2019)
Scores – 239, 76, 102*, 83, 144, 142, 92, 211, 82, 80Don Bradman – 1236 runs (1937-1946)
Scores – 212, 169, 51, 144*, 18, 102*, 103, 16, 187, 234Finally, SMITH beats BRADMAN! #Ashes2019
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 13, 2019
No matter what happens now, Steve Smith will end this #Ashes series with an average of at least 100. Incredible.
— Sam Ferris (@samuelfez) September 13, 2019
#SteveSmith has redefined comebacks. Impossible is nothing. But for that you need a different fibre.
Salute the magnificent cricketer: breathtaking brilliance! #Ashes
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) September 13, 2019
