Australia coach backs under-fire Smith as opener for series against India
Rubbing salt to the injury, the 34-year-old Smith could only manage 51 runs from four knocks during the recently-completed 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
Australia batsman Steve Smith, the No 1 ranked Test batsman, has added another feather to his cap by becoming the first batsman to hit 10 consecutive 50+ scores against a single opponent in Test cricket.
On the second day of the ongoing fifth and final Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, Smith scored 80 runs and in the process registered his 10th consecutive 50+ score against England, going past former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-haq’s record of nine.
Inzamam had achieved the feat against England. Meanwhile, West Indies legend Clive Lloyd, who had also scored nine consecutive 50+ scores against England, is third in the list.
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Fourth in the list is former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis (eight consecutive 50+ scores against Pakistan), followed by Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, who also had eight 50+ scores on the trot against Bangladesh.
Talking about the match, after opting to bowl first, Australia bowled out England for 294 runs before themselves getting bundled out for 225 runs. For the guests, Mitchell Marsh took a five-fer and for the hosts Jofra Archer took six-fer.
England have scored 9 without loss and lead by 78 runs by the end of Day 2.
In the ongoing five-match Ashes series, Australia have an unassailable 2-1 lead.
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