SYDNEY — The familiar sight of Steve Smith, head tilted, bat tapping, eyes scanning the field, has become a recurring nightmare for England’s bowlers. In the final chapter of the 2021-22 Ashes series at the SCG, that nightmare was revisited with brutal clarity. On a rain-interrupted third day, Smith crafted a masterful 67, an innings that not only steered Australia to a commanding position but also etched his name deeper into the annals of Ashes history, leaving only the immortal Sir Don Bradman ahead of him in the pantheon of run-scorers in cricket’s oldest rivalry.
Smith’s knock was a study in resilience and class. Coming to the crease with Australia at 86-2, he weathered a probing spell from England’s seamers on a pitch offering occasional variable bounce. He was patient, leaving judiciously outside off-stump, but characteristically punishing on anything straying onto his pads. His innings was the bedrock upon which Australia built a formidable second-innings total of 265-6 declared, setting England an improbable 388 for victory.
A Statistical Giant Joins Immortal Company
The significance of Smith’s contribution transcended the match situation. When he pushed a single off Jack Leach, he surpassed the legendary Jack Hobbs to move into second place on the all-time Ashes run-scoring list. With 3,044 runs from just 53 innings, Smith now sits behind only Sir Don Bradman’s mythical 5,028. His average in Ashes cricket, a staggering 59.68, is a testament to his dominance. Consider the company he now keeps and the pace at which he has arrived:
- Sir Don Bradman: 5,028 runs at 89.78 (37 Tests)
- Steve Smith: 3,044 runs at 59.68 (32 Tests)
- Jack Hobbs: 3,036 runs at 54.26 (41 Tests)
The "Problem" England Simply Cannot Solve
For England’s captain, Joe Root, Smith remains the perennial puzzle. After the day's play, Root could only offer a mixture of frustration and awe. "He's a fantastic player. He's been a fantastic player for a long time. You've got to give him a lot of credit for the way he's played throughout this series and his career. He's a world-class player and he's shown that again today," Root conceded. Yet, beneath the professional courtesy was the unspoken truth: England’s plans for Smith, from the 2019 ‘outside-off-stump’ theory to various rotations of spin, have consistently fallen short.
Smith’s method, unorthodox and self-taught, seems uniquely designed to frustrate classical bowling strategies. His pronounced movement across the crease disrupts line and length, his hands work independently in a whirl of activity, and his concentration is monastic. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, commentating for Channel 7, observed, "It's not just the runs, it's the manner of them. He absorbs pressure, he wears bowlers down, and then he cashes in. England look like they've run out of ideas against him, and that's the greatest compliment."
More Than Just a Batter: Smith's Evolution
This Sydney innings also highlighted a subtle evolution in Smith’s role within the team. No longer just the prolific accumulator at number four, he has shouldered significant responsibility since the retirement of Tim Paine and the leadership upheaval. He was appointed vice-captain upon Pat Cummins taking the helm, a move that signaled both redemption and a recognition of his cricket intellect. In Sydney, his innings was one of game management, shepherding younger players like Cameron Green and ensuring England would be batted out of the game.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald praised this matured aspect of Smith’s game. "People see the quirky mannerisms and the incredible stats, but within the group, he's a deep thinker about the game. His understanding of conditions, bowling changes, and match situations is elite. That innings was a captain's knock without the title," McDonald said.
"I Hope He's Here for a Long Time"
Perhaps the most telling endorsement came from the man at the other end for much of Smith’s tenure: the now-retired David Warner. In a heartfelt column during the Test, Warner wrote of his long-time teammate, "I just hope he's here for a long time. I've said to a lot of people, he could be the best ever. There's Bradman and then there's Smith. He's on a different level. His hunger for runs is incredible. He's not done yet, not by a long shot." This sentiment resonates with Australian fans who once wondered how the team would replace the giants of the previous era, only to find a new colossus in their midst.
The question of ‘what’s left to achieve’ for Smith seems almost irrelevant. While catching Bradman’s Ashes tally may be a bridge too far, his sights will be set on further defining his legacy. He is within striking distance of becoming the fastest to 9,000 Test runs (in terms of innings), and an Ashes series in England in 2023 presents the next great stage. His record in England is formidable, and the prospect of him conquoring those shores again as a senior statesman is a tantalizing one.
Conclusion: The Unfinished Symphony
The fifth Test in Sydney ultimately ended in a draw, the weather having the final say. Yet, the narrative of Steve Smith’s enduring class was the indelible takeaway. In a series already won, with the urn secured, his appetite for runs remained undimmed. He thwarted England once more, not with the blistering aggression of a Travis Head, but with the slow, deliberate suffocation that has become his trademark. He is a cricketer who plays not just against the bowling attack, but against history itself, measuring his progress against the ghosts of Hobbs, Hutton, and Border. As Warner’s words echo—"I hope he's here for a long time"—the rest of the cricket world watches, knowing they are witnessing a genius whose final act is far from written. For England, and for bowlers everywhere, the hope is that his symphony concludes sooner rather than later; the evidence, however, suggests the maestro is just entering his most compelling movement.