“Steve Smith’s latest Ashes message was accompanied by the usual type of sound coming from the stands and an unmistakable message coming from the commentary box, the booing is not having the required effect,” reported by an article.
The Barmy Army can do the world a favor by keeping their voices down, Kerry O’Keeffe told the audience on the commentary desk for Fox Cricket as the English fans revved up at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
“It only hardens Smith’s determination,” he said in reference to the reaction the Australian cricket star has received since the Cape Town incident in 2018.
Smith responded in the most harmful possible manner for England, batting through day three of the fifth test with 129 not out as Australia piled on 518 for seven and a first innings lead of 134.
With the series already secured at 3-1, Australia find themselves in a strong positioning to secure a win that would cement their dominance throughout the summer.
The innings also carried historical weight. On a long afternoon in pink for the annual Jane McGrath charity day, Smith moved past Jack Hobbs into second place on the all time list of Ashes run scorers, with only Don Bradman 5,028 runs still ahead.
It is a milestone that frames Smith relationship with England in stark numbers, even as his batting remains anything but tidy, the fidgeting , the adjustments, the restless energy between deliveries.
Australia’s dominance was built on a ruthless opening assault from Travis Head, who hammered 163 and forced England bowlers into survival mode on what has been the most batting friendly surface of the series.
Head brought up his hundred from 105 balls his third century of the series, and was given a major reprieve when Will Jacks spilled a catch on the boundary with Head on 121.
England disciplined efforts were loosened as the temperature rose. Seamer Matthew Potts brought in for his first game in the series, conceded 141 runs in 25 overs.
Before that nightwatchman Michael Neser consumed 90 balls for 24, as England exhausted their last review in a bid to get him out.
There was emotion on the second day too. Usman Khawaja who is retiring after this match had a solid reception at the SCG but only managed 17 runs falling to a full toss, as the Australian innings continued to tick along.
The crowd noise that Smith was facing when he reached his 37th Test ton had changed by then. According to Reuters, there were 46,161 people in the crowd, all wearing pink and rising to their feet to cheer on the occasion.
Smith’s 13 Ashes tons now rank second only to Bradman’s 19.
England’s Jacob Bethell believed that the visitors required early breakthroughs to ensure they remained competitive. “We’ve got to come out tomorrow and take those three wickets early and get back into it again,” Bethell was quoted after stumps.
