Putting behind the muck of sand-paper gate, that kept him out of national duty for a year, Steve Smith has ensured that he would more than makeup for all that he had undergone in the past year. His blistering form in the Ashes, scoring 144 and 142 in Australia’s 151-run win in the first Test shows his intent. Now, people are already comparing him to the great Donald Bradman, the Australian legend.
Although it seems impossible to touch Bradman’s indomitable Test average of 99.9, Smith is at number two with an average of 62.96. Bradman last played in 1948, and all these years, his average seemed like a mirage for every batting great who had walked past the 22 yards. Smith may have missed a year when he was supposed to be at his peak, but Don Bradman missed many, probably at the pinnacle of his career due to World War II.
In his first Ashes Test in 1946, Bradman scored 187 in Brisbane and 234 in Sydney. But, Smith went a step ahead by scoring two centuries in a single Ashes Test. Considering Bradman’s invincibility, the England bowlers innovated the famous “Bodyline”, which managed to tame the great to some extent. However, current England captain Root doesn’t have any option to rein in the fierce Smith. If Australia manages to retain this Ashes series, Smith will come one step closer to Bradman.
Image courtesy: Gulf News
