In anticipation of the third Ashes Test, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting made a bold assertion, proclaiming that Steve Smith is the country’s second-greatest after the legendary Don Bradman.
As Steve Smith prepares to play his 100th Test match, he has an opportunity to achieve greatness when Australia faces England in the third Ashes Test scheduled from July 6th to 10th in Leeds.
Smith will also join the elite group of 14 Australians who have reached the milestone of 100 Test appearances. Smith’s remarkable record speaks for itself. In 99 Tests, he has amassed a staggering 9113 runs at an impressive average of 59.56 and a strike rate of 53.78.
He has scored 32 centuries, including four double hundreds, and has registered 37 half-centuries. Notably, his highest Test score of 239 was achieved against England during the 2017-18 Ashes series.
In the recent third Ashes Test, which Australia won by 43 runs, Smith showcased his brilliance by scoring his 32nd Test century. He made an impressive 110 runs off 184 balls in the first innings. During his innings, the seasoned batsman struck seven fours.
During an interview with Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail, Ricky Ponting praised Smith’s exceptional talent and ranked him as the second-greatest batsman in Australian cricket history.
When asked where he would place Smith among Australian greats, Ponting responded, “If it all ended tomorrow he’d be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman. Statistically, you cannot argue with that.”
“He’s achieving things so quickly. Even at Lord’s, he became the second-fastest in history to reach 9,000 Test runs, highlighting Smith’s rapid ascent in the record books.”
Smith’s outstanding performance in the second Ashes Test earned him the well-deserved accolade of Player of the Match.
As he approaches his momentous 100th Test appearance, Smith expressed his desire to mark the occasion with a series-clinching victory.
He stated, “It is something that has been on my bucket list, to win an Ashes series in England. What a way to top it off, if I could do it in my 100th game. It would be special for sure.”
With his consistent run-scoring ability and impressive records, Steve Smith has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Australian cricket.
His remarkable achievements have led Ricky Ponting, an esteemed figure in the sport, to proclaim him as the second-greatest Australian batsman, firmly cementing his place in cricketing history.
As Smith steps onto the field for his 100th Test, cricket fans eagerly await his performance, hoping to witness another extraordinary display of his batting prowess.
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