Australia hail Smith as Bradman incarnate

Saturday, 7 September 2019 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australia’s Steve Smith

MELBOURNE (Reuters): The Steve Smith double century at Old Trafford that continued his brilliant Ashes campaign has generated wonder Down Under, with Australia media yesterday branding him a modern-day Don Bradman.

The Depression-era Bradman’s batting average of 99.94 invites no comparison but Smith’s feats in England mark him out as the next most effective tormenter of the nation’s bowlers.

Back at the crease after missing the third test through concussion, his 211 propelled him to 589 runs for the series at an average of 147.25, leaving England’s Headingley saviour Ben Stokes (327 at 81.75) well behind in second place.

Smith’s three double centuries against England is second only to Bradman’s record five, while his 11th Ashes ton moved him past Steve Waugh’s 10 into outright third overall.

Only Bradman (19) and England’s Jack Hobbs (12) have more Ashes hundreds.

“Books detail Bradman’s greatness, sepia toned newsreels of his deeds fill a museum that bears his name,” Russell Gould wrote glowingly in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.

“There was even a song written about him. ‘Our Steve Smith’ is more likely to be a trending hashtag. But it’s captured, this era, this display of sheer cricketing dominance will live well beyond this time, and this team.”

Smith has now five centuries from his last six tests against England and averages 65.37 in the Ashes, also second only to Bradman among Australian cricketers.

His day two exploits pushed Australia to a mammoth 497 for eight declared, with England 23 for one at the close of day two on Thursday, and under huge pressure to keep the series alive.

Bradman’s lofty record of 5,028 Ashes runs has remained the benchmark for 70 years and 30-year-old Smith (2,615) may struggle to mow it down, even if his formidable gifts and hunger remain undimmed for years.

But the former captain is well on the way to being regarded as one of the all-time greats, according to former Australia players.

“He could be anything. We might be seeing history in the making here,” former test batsman Mike Hussey said on ESPNcricinfo.

“We think no-one can beat Bradman. I don’t think he’s going to even beat Bradman. But he maybe is pushing the bar higher and higher.”

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described Smith as a “genius” and seemingly impervious to any bowler’s plans.

“To think how good Bradman must have been — to be a third again better than what Steve Smith’s doing at the moment — is ridiculous,” Ponting told Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au).

“(Smith’s) got four, five, six years of good cricket ahead of him, which if you add it up, that’s probably another 80, 90 test matches.

“Then he’s played 150 games and could have all sorts of numbers and records by then and let’s hope he does, because the way he’s going about it now, the way he’s playing, he deserves to get the rewards from that.”