Xtra Time Web Desk: It will be a momentous occasion for Australian batter Steve Smith as he prepares to play his 100th test match against England starting at Headingley from Thursday, July 6. Since making his test debut against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, the 34-year-old went on to establish himself as one of the greatest Australian batters.
Smith, made his test debut as a leg-spinner against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010. Within five years of making his debut Smith was named as Australia’s captain and became the No. 1 test batter. The 34-year-old will be the 15th Australian cricketer to play 100 test matches.
In a career of many twists and turns, Steve had his share of controversies as he was involved in a ball-tampering scandal that saw him stripped of the captaincy and banned for 12 months. But ever since that controversy at Newlands in 2018, Smith has returned to test cricket with a bang.
Regarded as one among the Fab Fours, Smith has now scored 32 Test hundreds, putting him level with Steve Waugh and only behind Ricky Ponting for Australia. Smith’s latest test ton earned him the Player-of-the-Match at Lord’s last week as Australia went 2-0 up in the ongoing Ashes 2023.
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Smith’s run-scoring feats have been remarkable. Since the maiden hundred in 2013 he has barely had a slump, indicated by the fact that from the moment his average hit 50 – which came against India in 2014 – he has never slipped below that mark.
It will be a perfect icing on the cake for Smith if Australia goes on to win the Ashes series on English soil that has eluded them for two decades. Smith himself has stated that it was always his dream to win an Ashes series away from home.