Steve Smith continued his love affair with batting in England, adding to his impressive collection of centuries on the second morning of the World Test Championship final against India.
Smith already had six Test hundreds to his name in English conditions and added a seventh as Australia moved to 422 for seven during a lively morning session at the Oval.
The 34-year-old came out on the wrong end of a couple of debatable lbw decisions during his recent overseas stint with Sussex in the LV= County Championship, but he was back in a familiar groove as he converted an unbeaten 95 overnight into 121.
As well as driving home Australia’s advantage in the ICC’s showpiece, it also tuned Smith up nicely for an Ashes series that is just eight days away, nudging his average in this country back past 60.
Australia resumed on 327 for three after a dominant first day, with the match progressing swiftly as 95 runs and four wickets were added in two eventful hours.
Smith wasted no time at all in passing three figures, hitting his first two balls of the morning from Mohammed Siraj to the boundary as he cashed in on a couple of looseners.
It had taken him 229 balls to get there, a gentle pace by modern standards, but it was another reminder of his ruthless ability to grind down bowling attacks.
India’s bowlers quickly settled on bouncing the set pair of Smith and Travis Head, who lit up day one with a brilliant ton of his own. He continued his rapid scoring rate to reach 163 in 174 deliveries, but eventually came undone against a relentless tactic.
After trying and failing to pick him off with a variety of bumpers, Siraj finally got his man with one that climbed towards his hip and flicked a glove as Head tried to whip towards square-leg.
Cameron Green fluffed his lines slightly at number six, guiding his first ball for four but making just two more before driving airily at Mohammed Shami and spearing a sharp catch to second slip.
India continued to drag themselves back into the fight, Smith’s concentration finally wavering when he nicked Shardul Thakur back into his stumps with an uncharacteristically lazy prod.
With Alex Carey living dangerously and Mitchell Starc running himself out for five, Australia were losing a little momentum but with plenty of scoreboard pressure already applied.
Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction; Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively
Guyanese hard-hitting left hander Sherfane Rutherford will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the Gujarat Giants on Monday’s second day of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rutherford, who entered the auction with a base price of US$182,000, was the subject of an intense bidding war between the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.
The Indians started the bidding at US$243,000 before the Titans countered with a bid of US$268,000.
Mumbai responded with a bid of US$292,000 before the Titans returned with a winning bid of US$317,000.
Rutherford has previously made 10 appearances in the IPL, seven for the Delhi capitals in 2019 and three for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, scoring 106 runs in nine innings at an average of 15.14.
He has also previously been part of the Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Other West Indians selected on day two include Romario Shepherd who was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for US$182,000 and West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell who went to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the same price.
The Lucknow Super Giants exercised their right to match the Mumbai Indians bid of US$91,000 for pacer Shamar Joseph.
Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Akeal Hosein, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase all went unsold.
Australia still confident despite heavily losing first India Test, says Cummins
Pat Cummins says Australia are still confident they can win the Border Gavaskar Trophy despite slumping to a 295-run defeat to India in the first Test.
The hosts started day four needing 522 runs after slipping to 12-3 at the start of their second innings but could only reach 238 as India's attack made quick work of things in Perth.
Australia have won just one Test series when losing the opener (home and away) since 1970. They have lost 24 series and drawn five, though three of those five draws were two-match series.
Despite a poor start to their five-match series, Cummins insisted it was unlikely Australia would make any rash decisions ahead of the second Test.
"I am not a selector, but I would be very surprised if we made any big changes," he told ABC Sports.
"Really confident these are the best of 11 guys coming into this week. This week didn't go our way, but I'm still confident that's the case.
"We challenge each other. We will stick firm, so this week doesn't change that.
"We were clearly well off the mark. There is a lot to work on. So, the most important thing is, there's four Test matches next to come.
"What's the next move? How do we make sure that we don't be in this position again?"
India had racked up just 150 runs during their first innings, but a strong bowling performance against Australia steadied the ship before centuries from Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal put them out of sight.
The tourists claimed their biggest Test win (by runs) in Australia on Monday, while it was also their third-biggest away Test victory in history.
Captain Jasprit Bumrah, who took his 40th wicket on Australian soil as he finished with bowling figures of 8-72, was pleased with the faith India showed after their early setback.
"We were put under pressure in the first innings, but the way we responded after that, I'm really very proud of the team," Bumrah said.
"I played here in 2018, so I remember that when you start here, the wicket is a little soft and then becomes quicker and quicker. So, I was relying on that experience. Obviously, this wicket was a little less spicy than the last one that I played here, but we were really well prepared.
"So I was just telling everyone to have faith in their process and ability, because over here at this moment you have an opportunity to do something special. So, on a given day, experience does matter, but if you have faith in your ability, you can do something special."
Rush among broadcasters for inaugural Global Super League
The 2024 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), featuring teams from Australia, Bangladesh, England, Guyana, and Pakistan, has finalized its list of broadcasters, ensuring global reach for the tournament set to run from November 26 to December 6.
Fans across the world will have access to live coverage of the tournament, which boasts a US$1 million prize fund and promises top-quality cricket with international stars competing for a global T20 title.
In the Caribbean, Rush will be the official broadcaster, providing fans in the region with comprehensive coverage of all the matches. In Guyana, NCN, TVG, and ENetworks will bring the tournament to local viewers, reflecting the host nation’s enthusiasm for the event.
The tournament will also be broadcast in key cricketing markets such as Australia on Fox Sports, India via Sony and Fancode, Pakistan on A Sports and Tapmad, and in the United Kingdom through TNT Sports. Additionally, Sky Sport NZ will cover the matches in New Zealand, and Willow TV will cater to viewers in the USA and Canada.
For fans in markets without a dedicated broadcast partner, the GSL will provide free live streaming on its Facebook and YouTube channels, ensuring accessibility to cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
The GSL, held exclusively at the Guyana National Stadium, promises to bring together the best of global T20 cricket, with players from different nations vying for the coveted title. The tournament’s global broadcasting network underscores its ambition to become a staple in the international cricket calendar.
As excitement builds for the inaugural edition, cricket fans everywhere can look forward to enjoying the action, whether through local broadcasters or online platforms.
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