Ashes 2019: Steve Smith dares England fielders to run him out at Old Trafford

Steve Smith has not let down his team a single time in the ongoing Ashes in England. Having slammed a double hundred in the first innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the former Australian captain came up with 82 off 92 balls to help Australia pile up on the meaty lead they got over the hosts. The 80-plus knock is the lowest he has scored in this series. He has already hit three hundreds and one 90-plus innings in this series.

Smith, who missed the third Test after getting hit by a bouncer from Jofra Archer at Lord’s, was also seen engaging in antics during the second innings at OId Trafford. The World No.1 batsman in Tests was seen challenging the England fielders to run him out. The in-form batsman gave enough glimpses of confidence oozing out during his act.

It so happened when pacer Stuart Broad bowled a yorker at Smith and the latter somehow managed to touch his bat to the ball. The ball then almost hit the stumps and as it went beyond the timber, Smith gestured as if he was looking for a run. Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow ran in trying to stop the batsman from taking a run and the latter started enticing the opponent fielders as if asking them to run him out if they could. Smith hopped back to the crease twice in all and as the fielders converged near the stumps, one of them seemed frustrated and pulled out one of the wickets.

Smith slammed 600-plus runs in four Tests

The 30-year-old Smith who is playing in his first Test series since making a comeback from the year-long ban in March, equalled the likes of Virat Kohli and Brian Lara to slam 600-plus runs in a series featuring three or more Tests. While Kohli, Lara and now Smith have achieved the feat thrice, the pack is led by the legendary Donald Bradman who made it happen six times.

Smith, who now has scored six hundreds in last eight Tests versus England, also hit his third Test double ton, all of which have come against the Three Lions. His 211 at Old Trafford is also his double hundred in consecutive Test series against the same opponents (he hit his career-best of 239 in Perth in Ashes 2017-18).

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