Steve Smith, the Australian captain has replied to the ‘cheating gate ‘scandal in the best manner. He stuck to his task and compiled an unbeaten century at the end of the first day play in the third test between Indian and Australia at Ranchi. The scandal that was snowballing into a major controversy after the Bangalore test has been buried to hatchet after this spectacular performance by the Aussie captain. The Aussies captain won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.
Steve Smith’s arrival to the crease calmed things down in the first session
It was a breezy start made by Australians with Warner and Renshaw looking comfortable at the crease. Warner had a brief cameo before he caressed a juicy full toss given by Jadega back to the same bowler to be dismissed caught and bowled. Renshaw, Warner’s opening partner lost his wicket by following a wide delivery bowled by Umesh Yadav to be snapped up by Kohli in first slip. Ashwin got the wicket of Shaun Marsh after it was reviewed by India for a bat pad. Australia went to lunch after having scored one hundred and four runs for the loss of three wickets with Steve Smith batting at crease with thirty-four runs. The captain ensured that Australia did not lose another wicket due to exuberance and calmed things down by batting sensibly and cutting down risks.
Steve Smith took attack to Indian camp
Handscomb and Steve Smith played some breath-taking shots after lunch and that eased the pressure on Australia. The run rate was healthy and Smith was making pace bowlers ball to his strength; on his pads and he was flicking at ease. The crusade of the Australian captain was jolted for brief when he lost his partner Handscomb to Umesh Yadav.
Indians were bowling freebies to Smith rather than tightening things up and that made him score some easy runs. Maxwell came to crease and he was playing a test match for the first time after 2014 and Smith calmed the nerves of Maxwell by scoring briskly from his end and that gave Maxwell ample time to adjust to the pace of the pitch.
Steve Smith reached personal milestone of having completed five thousand runs in test cricket when he reached seventy-six and this was achieved in ninety-seven innings
Steve Smith was weaving an alternative universe post tea session
Smith was the backbone of Australia win in the first test at Pune when he compiled a magnificent century. He really piled on the misery on Indian team when he combined with Maxwell to help Australia reach a commanding position of two hundred and ninety-nine for the loss of four wickets. Steve Smith compiled a well-executed one hundred and seventeen and is still unbeaten at the crease and to his company he had Maxwell, well positioned at eighty-two runs. Together they have stitched unbeaten one hundred and fifty-nine runs for the fifth wicket.
Indian will have their task cut out to make sure that danger man Smith is removed early from the equation on day two play else Indian will be really shunted out of the match.