Steve Smith's slowest first-class century comes to an end in bizarre fashion

Steve Smith is one of the most innovative cricketers when it comes to batting. On numerous occasions, he has been spotted playing some unique strokes but, sometimes he gets caught in a difficult position in his attempt. Currently, he is gearing up for the two-match Test series against Pakistan and played a dependable knock in a Sheffield Shield game that ended up in a bizarre fashion.

The number one Test batsman scored his 42nd first-class century against South Australia. Also, it is his slowest amongst all that came after Smith faced 290 balls. His earlier, slowest ton came in 261 deliveries back in 2017 against England at The Gabba.

Steve Smith’s powers to adapt

But, this slow knock from the Australian cricketer showed his powers of adaptability and concentration ahead of an important Test series. Just after playing two back to back T20I series, it becomes very difficult for a player to cope up with the conditions of the longer format game. But it isn’t a problem for Steve Smith.

Recently, a week ago, he scored a swashbuckling knock of 80 runs in 51 balls against Pakistan in the second T20I of the series. And, now he played a slow knock. However, Smith got dismissed in a bizarre fashion in his attempt of playing an uppercut against medium pacer Marcus Stoinis that was caught by Josh Inglis, who was standing just close to the wicket.

As per Smith, the ball didn’t go into gloves of the keeper taking the edge of his willow but, umpire adjudged him out. The catch that was taken by Inglis was brilliant because he was standing close to the stumps and collected the ball of medium-pacer Stoinis at head height.

Here is the video:

NEVER tell Steve Smith he has to stop batting!

A bizarre dismissal brings the right-hander's 42nd first-class century to an end #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/KNEDpjtiFp

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019

Later on, Smith also accepted the fact that he played a slow inning. He also added that the wicket was slow and it was difficult to play the shots. According to him, this is the right way of coming back to red-ball cricket after playing back to back T20Is.

“After playing the T20s it was about coming back and getting back into that red-ball cricket and finding the right way to go about it. I was a bit slower than I would have liked but it wasn’t easy. The wicket was pretty slow,” Steve Smith said as quoted by cricket.com.au. The upcoming series of Australia against Pakistan will start from November 21.

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