ENG vs AUS: Steve Smith could not do as amazing as Root, failed miserably in 100th Test, Moin Ali’s advantage

Expectations were high that Steve Smith would once again show the same feat that he had shown in 99 Tests. Which was done by only 10 batsmen before him. In Headingley, Smith was also expected to do wonders like those 10 batsmen. Especially after the strong batting of the Lord’s Test, it was felt that Smith would do so. This did not happen. Steve Smith, playing his 100th Test, failed in both innings and missed out on becoming a part of history by scoring a century.

The third Test match of the Ashes series against England was very special for Steve Smith. This was the 100th Test match of the career of Steve Smith, the best Test batsman of this era. Before this test, Smith, who had scored 32 centuries and scored 9 thousand runs, was expected to play another strong innings, but this could not happen.

Smith failed in the first innings

Everyone’s eyes were only on whether Smith would be able to make his 100th Test match memorable. Everyone wanted to see whether Smith would be able to score a century in both the innings of the 100th Test like Ricky Ponting. On the first day of the match, Smith could score only 22 runs in the first innings, ending hopes of repeating Ponting’s record.

Miss the second time

Even after this there was one chance left. Century in 100th Test. In the nearly 150-year history of Test cricket, only 10 batsmen have been able to score a century in the 100th Test. A batsman like Smith was expected to do it. On the second day, Smith came for batting in Australia’s second innings. The team also needed a big score from him, but Smith got out after scoring just 2 runs and missed the opportunity.

Two other batsmen playing in the same match scored a century in their 100th Test. Joe Root scored an inning of 218 runs in the Chennai Test against India in 2021. At the same time, David Warner scored 200 runs against South Africa in December 2022.

Moeen Ali’s 200th victim

Now Smith may not have been able to make his 100th Test memorable, but England spinner Moeen Ali made it special for himself. It was Moeen who got Smith’s wicket in the second innings. Along with this victim, he also completed his 200 wickets in Test cricket. In his last over, Moeen also piled up Marnus Labushen.