4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Tom Flint]

Well swapping Roy and Denly didn't work dod it? **** off England.

Can't really blame him for that dismissal, although there were a couple of needless drives that he played and missed at

 

[mr_mister]

Nice of Starc to put Paines skiing into context.

Smith is just a robot.

Bit rough to call an innings commencing at 224-5 skiing

 

[TestMatch]

Joe Root has gotten Steve Smith out in 2 of the 3 times he scored a double century.

 

[silentstriker]

Pretty terrible day for England in general.

 

[Starfighter]

Nobbad. Think we're gonna have trouble displacing Burns again. Gutted I missed a Starc fifty, they're always so fun to watch.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Remember when we used to compare Smith to Williamson, Root and Kohli as if they were on the same level? How naive we were

 

[Slifer]

Just so we're clear but for a concussion, Smith could be threatening Everton Weekes' record for consecutive 100s?? Wag

 

[Starfighter]

I must say that I was really annoyed that England bowled really well with the second new ball and didn't waste it bowling short at all...

 

[Burgey]

Just so we're clear but for a concussion, Smith could be threatening Everton Weekes' record for consecutive 100s?? Wag

But for that concussion, it's 3-0 and a clean sweep is in the offing.

 

[Cabinet96]

It's worth noting that Smith has 589 runs in four innings and has only had one normal dismissal. Twice got out slogging with the tail and also had the dismissal after he'd just been concussed. He's not playing against a minnow, and the series hasn't been a particularly high scoring one. Then you have to add in the pressure that was on him coming back from the ban, as well as the sickening blow to the neck that would've left many other batsmen shaken for a prolonged period of time, and an average of 147 barely seems to do him justice. We're truly witnessing one of the greatest ever displays of batsmanship that has happened in a series in front of our very eyes at the moment.

 

[GIMH]

But for that concussion, it's 3-0 and a clean sweep is in the offing.

But for Jimmy's injury Smith is stranded on 14 not out in the first innings at Edgbaston and we win by an innings. Ain't that the truth

 

[Burgey]

Nah, he’s past it, sadly. Though you’re right to concede he wouldn’t be getting Smith out.

 

[Pothas]

Without Stokes it is 3-0 as well right now.

 

[Burgey]

For sure. Been as much a one man Army as Smith has

 

[TheJediBrah]

Smith has had plenty of luck too though. Not Stokes-level luck but It's not like it's been chanceless.

 

[SteveNZ]

It's worth noting that Smith has 589 runs in four innings and has only had one normal dismissal. Twice got out slogging with the tail and also had the dismissal after he'd just been concussed. He's not playing against a minnow, and the series hasn't been a particularly high scoring one. Then you have to add in the pressure that was on him coming back from the ban, as well as the sickening blow to the neck that would've left many other batsmen shaken for a prolonged period of time, and an average of 147 barely seems to do him justice. We're truly witnessing one of the greatest ever displays of batsmanship that has happened in a series in front of our very eyes at the moment.

100%. We've never seen anything like this in our lifetime.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Without Stokes it is 3-0 as well right now.

Let’s take out all match winners from every match ever played.

 

[Woodster]

Smith has had plenty of luck too though. Not Stokes-level luck but It's not like it's been chanceless.

Yes, fair to say this innings has contained more than a fair bit of luck, as impressive as it has been.

 

[Pothas]

Let’s take out all match winners from every match ever played.

Hard to think of many series that have been dominated by two players this much though.

 

[stephen]

Smith ex Machina isn't really fair on other teams is he? Without him other bowling attacks would be licking their chops against Australia's current batting lineup. With him they're pooping their pants.

I think from now on cricket Australia need to ban Smith every few months, with the ban being lifted just before a test series. It seems as though Smith is trying to score all the runs he missed out on over the last year at once, in a brutal, bloody assault on the English bowlers. I mean there can be no side better to exact vengeance upon for injustices carried out by Cricket Australia.

Having said that England looked mentally cooked. Absolutely nothing went their way, the captaincy was woeful and the bowling limp. Then again, it's easy to sympathise with the mental disintegration when they're not up against a normal player but the machines of Steven.