Just a freak: Steve Smith leaves Ashes teammates and rivals in awe after another clinic at the crease
Australia in command of fourth test at the MCG after ending day one 244 for three with captain Smith unbeaten on 65
Steve Smith is a freakish talent, according to David Warner, while England’s leading bowler James Anderson said the Australia skipper is in the form of his life.
Smith is well on the way to posting his fourth consecutive century in the showpiece Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after an unbeaten 65 in Australia’s 244 for three after day one Tuesday.
He has not been dismissed in a Melbourne test match since Boxing Day 2014 and is on track to repeat the feat on a bat-friendly MCG pitch.
In the last three showpiece Boxing Day tests, Smith has scored 192 against India, 134 not out against the West Indies and an unbeaten 165 last year against Pakistan.
So far in this series Smith has amassed 491 runs against England at a stunning average of 163.66 from five innings.
“I think we all wish we were half the batter Steve Smith is at the moment because he’s seeing them like watermelons, but he makes the game look so easy,” said team vice-captain Warner, who scored his 21st test century with 103 on Tuesday.
“He’s just a freak … I don’t know how he does what he does.