Steve Smith’s comeback to the Australian Test team after completing the ball-tampering ban was a memorable one as he produced a series of batting masterclass in the Ashes 2019 in England.
The star batter scored three fabulous centuries to help Australia retain the urn on English soil for the first time since 2001.
Smith had started the series with twin tons at Edgbaston (144 and 142) and followed it with scores of 211, 92, 82, 80 and 23 to finish the Ashes 2019 with 774 runs at an astonishing average of 110.57.
As Australia set to begin their Ashes 2023 campaign against England at Edgbaston from June 16, Smith recalled his heroics at the same venue four years ago.
Notably, Smith and his teammate David Warner were subjected to a volley of boos by the Birmingham crowd for their role in the ball-tampering scandal. However, the right-hander didn’t let it affect his on-field performance as his centuries in each innings helped Australia win the match by 251 runs.
No wonder, Smith termed the Edgbaston Test of Ashes 2019 as the most favourite of his illustrious Test career so far.
“I think that Test match is probably my favourite out of my career so far, given the circumstances and the importance of a first Ashes Test, particularly away from home,” Smith said in a press conference ahead of the Ashes 2023 opener.
“I’ve had a couple of good ones. It would be nice to repeat it again but I’m just going to go out there and go through my routines and do what I need to do, and hopefully I can score some runs and help the team out.
“Coming back here I’ve got some wonderful memories and some things I can draw from,” he added.
Smith has entered the Ashes 2023 on the back of a match-winning century against India in the ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval last week. He slammed 121 in the first innings and added 285 runs for the fourth wicket with Travis Head (163) to lead the foundation of Australia’s 209-run victory.
The ICC Test rankings for batters is currently dominated by the Aussies. While Marnus Labuschagne holds the top spot, Smith and Head occupy the second and third positions respectively.
“I think it’s cool to see us all at the top of the tree,” Smith said. “I think those two in particular, the improvements they’ve made over the last four or five years have been exceptional.
“We all do it completely differently, obviously Trav comes out and plays very aggressively and takes the game on. It’s sort of a ‘see ball, hit ball’ mentality.
“Marnus and I probably think our way through situations a little bit differently, but it is cool to see the hard work of those guys pay off and for them to get themselves up there in the rankings.”
(With AFP Inputs)
