Twitter goes berserk as Steve Smith smashes yet another Ashes ton

In the future, if ever there comes a time where aliens will try to invade the earth, Steve Smith might bat Australia its way out of trouble. With every passing game, he is solidifying his status as the greatest Test batsman in history after Sir Donald Bradman. Once again, the battle was between him and England the other XI surrendered to the might of this 30-year-old genius.

The first session of the second day was pretty action-packed at the Old Trafford, with Stuart Broad picking up things from where he left the other day. He trapped Travis Head in front of the stumps with a scorcher, which brought an end to a 39-run partnership with Smith. Matthew Wade played his way around for the next 45 minutes as Smith took complete charge of the innings.

Just the way he usually does, he moved in and around the sticks with complete command and gave nothing away to the English bowlers. Wade was dismissed courtesy some smart bowling from Jack Leach, but Smith continued to pile on the agony alongside skipper Tim Paine. With a brace in the 68th over, he brought up his 26th Test century and walked off to a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd. That is some turn-around.

Smith eyes some grandiose records

Steve Smith brought up his 11th hundred in the Ashes, making him the third-best in this category, only behind the greatest run-scorers in red-ball cricket history – Sir Donald Bradman (19 centuries) and Sir Jack Hobbs (12 centuries). Hobbs and Bradman remained at the top for quite a while and only Steve Waugh came remotely close to touching them in the last two decades.

With plenty of time and power to add, it will come in as no surprise if Smith catches up with Hobbs before the Ashes ends this time. He also equalled Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth position for the most centuries against a single team. While Sachin scored 11 tons against Australia, Smith has as many against England. Bradman leads these charts with 19 against England, followed by Sunil Gavaskar’s 13 against West Indies and Jack Hobbs’s 12 against Australia.

Here is how Twitter reacted to this genius, who was having just another day at the office

Steve Smith’s last 12 innings v the Poms
143
141*
40
6
239
76
102*
83
144
142
92
101* (and counting)#Ashes

— lehmo (@lehmo23) September 5, 2019

Steve Smith did not touch the sandpaper, he took the fall for others stupidity and actions. Courage & resilience to come back from a year of penance, then concussion, to face Pace and hostility & make another ashes century, has to be shown full respect. #legendary

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) September 5, 2019

???? Number 26 for @stevesmith49 what a player, we are witnessing greatness! #Genius #Ashes #ENGvAUS

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 5, 2019

… Steve Smith ????!!! Whatever you may think of him.. What a player he is!!! #ENGvsAUS

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) September 5, 2019

A JOKE. https://t.co/li6DANNBOc

— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1) September 5, 2019

Nothing but admiration for @stevesmith49 … We are witnessing GREATNESS .. #Ashes

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 5, 2019

CENTURY! What an absolute freak.

Test ton No.26 for Steve Smith – his 11th in #Ashes cricket and his third of the series. Remarkable player. pic.twitter.com/K0jdR8SU2a

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 5, 2019

Steve Smith has missed one and a half Tests in this series. He is the leading scorer in the series by over 150 runs and his lowest score in four innings is 92.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) September 5, 2019

Steve Smith utterly extraordinary. Six hundreds in his last 12 innings against England, averaging 145 in this time.

— Tim (@timwig) September 5, 2019

Among all Test nations, across 142 years, only Don Bradman (19) has scored more Test centuries against England than Steve Smith’s 11 #Ashes

— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) September 5, 2019

Live scenes from the birth of Steve Smith. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/jseTIq3dFU

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) September 5, 2019

This is the 4th series in which Smith has scored three (or more) centuries.
Most 3-century series:
5: Bradman, Sobers
4: Steve Smith, Kallis
3: Gavaskar, Harvey, Hayden, Lara, Warner, Weekeshttps://t.co/vGz7ofzjkZ

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) September 5, 2019

You make mistake. You admit it. You cry. You apologize. But you don’t look back. You only move forward. Keep moving until you get more than you lost.

Well played Steve Smith! ???? #Ashes

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 5, 2019

Man from another planet, law of averages also almost not applicable to him, holding together the Aussie innings. @stevesmith49#ENGvsAUS #Ashes2019

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) September 5, 2019

Another hundred for @stevesmith49 as his technique of playing Archer by leaving his head in the dressing room pays off. pic.twitter.com/HJqOidg7Dy

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 5, 2019

He’s quirky but which genius isn’t. And he is possessed of a very strong temperament. What a player, @stevesmith49 is. Absolute champion.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 5, 2019