Ashes 2017-18, 3rd Test, Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

England finished day 1 on a high and Australia finished day 2 with some brilliance from Steve Smith. Day 3 promised to be entertaining. However, Steve Smith provided all the entertainment as England were in the backseat again. This Ashes, everything has been about one man and that is Smith. He has absolutely conquered the series.

Day 3 saw Australia take the lead and the game slowly slipping away from England. It saw the Australian captain break numerous records and also saw the other Marsh score some valuable runs. England lost their advantage as Australia are looking at yet another Test and series win after a splendid performance by their captain. That said, let us look at the five moments that shaped the day of centuries.

1. Smith’s relentless form continues

Steve Smith scored yet another century. This one was impeccable as he did not give the opposition even a sniff at his wicket. He was marvellous with his stroke play and the timing of his century couldn’t have been better. Many naysayers had ignored his talent because of his unusual technique but he has answered them all with his bat.

Smith’s century brought up 1000 Test runs in 2017. He has surpassed 1000 runs in a calendar year for the fourth consecutive time. This statistic is absolutely mind-blowing. This century took Australia closer to the England total and victory started to walk away from them, yet again.

2. Marsh out, Marsh in

The ever so reliable Shaun Marsh was in fantastic form since Day One of the Ashes. He was outstanding in the second Test when he scored a much needed century. However, the third Test has not yielded him any runs. He scored 28 of 75 deliveries. Moeen Ali was the bowler as he bowled a nice drifter that kissed Shaun Marsh’s willow and flew towards Joe Root who was waiting in the slip.

Shaun Marsh walked out and Mitchell Marsh walked in, a tall stocky guy came out with positive intent and didn’t let the bouncy Englishmen get to his head. Instead, he counterattacked and got to his fifty leaving England seeking again.

3. Incredible Smith

Smith, a record breaker, a history maker. From ball 1 to ball 390 he was outstanding. An absolute beauty of a double ton saw Smith enter the record books that were left untouched for years together. His name is engraved with the likes of Don Bradman, Alan Border, Bob Simpson and Billy Murdoch as he became the fifth Australian captain to score a double ton in the Ashes.

Steven bagged his incredible double century without giving England a chance. He absolutely outplayed everyone in the opposition half and calling him the best Test batsman is no crime. It seemed Smith could bat for ages together as England ran out of ideas to get him out. The lead was well over 100 as the Brits were down and out.

4. The other Marsh gets his ton

We have seen Shaun Marsh do his thing with the bat but Mitchell Marsh had never fulfilled his potential as a batter. Well, today he did everything right. A bowling all-rounder by the name but Marsh showed that he can score big runs. The way he batted today put some of the main England batters to shame. He scored a magnificent century and continued scoring until the end of days play.

Marsh smashed a century in just 130 deliveries. He drove, he flicked, he pulled and he scored a century. Mitchell Marsh not only held one end but he took some pressure off Steve Smith as well. He went on to finish the day on 181 at a strike rate of 77. His maiden Test century looked like one of the many he had scored before.

5. The 300-run partnership

Steve Smith scored 229, Mitchell Marsh scored 181, their partnership worth 301 in 465 balls. This was one of the best partnerships Ashes has ever witnessed. Mitchell Marsh surprised everyone with a fantastic 181 and Smith, well he didn’t surprise anyone.  This partnership saw Australia take a 146 run lead at the end of days play and left England in tatters.

England, on the other hand, was battered, bruised and out of ideas by the end of days play. It was another Test, another day but the same result. Their bowlers couldn’t get Steve Smith out and the Test match slowly slipped through their hands. They leaked 346 runs today as Day Four is promises nothing but the same for them.