Twitter Reactions: Steve Smith's splendor innings followed by Hazlewood's twin strikes gives Australia the upper hand

Australia resumed from their overnight score of 165/4. While skipper Steve Smith continued from where he left, Shaun Marsh registered a striking half-century. Stuart Broad managed to get the better of Marsh as England drew blood soon in the day.

Tim Paine and Mitchell Starc were dismissed in consecutive overs as Australia were reduced to 209/7. That’s when Pat Cummins played a crucial knock of 42 in his 120-ball stay at the crease. He lend a supportive hand to Smith who was at ease throughout the innings.

The Australian captain gradually went on to register his 21st century as the Gabba crowd applauded the landmark. Displaying his finesse as a quality batsman, Steve Smith batted with absolute vividness. One couldn’t just help but wonder over the prospect of watching another class innings from this master of improvisation.

Australia managed to gain a lead of 26 runs before getting all out with 328 on the board. Nathan Lyon was the last batsman dismissed as Smith remained not out on 141 from 326 balls. An innings that contained 14 boundaries and some of the finest cricketing shots you’d ever see.

Stuart Broad was the pick amongst the English bowlers with three wickets to his name. Jimmy Anderson wasn’t far behind with a couple of wickets. Moeen Ali also picked two wickets. The trio of Jake Ball, Chris Woakes and even skipper Joe Root managed to get a wicket each.

England came out to bat in a bid to set Australia a target. However, the hosts were just splendid with the ball. Alastair Cook continued to struggle as he got out playing a pull shot off Josh Hazlewood. James Vince who was the top scorer in the first innings was caught at slip as England lost two wickets in the third session.

The visitors were 33/2 at stumps on Day 3. Twitter continued to entertain with some splendid tweets throughout the day. They were all praises for Steve Smith and came hard at Alastair Cook.

Here we present to you some of the best Twitter reactions from Day 3:

That last hour was Brutal …. Incredible atmosphere …. #Ashes

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 25, 2017

I have had many cricketing heroes – Slats, RT Ponting to name a few – but holy smokes, Steve Smith, you are rocketing up the list

— Ed Cowan (@eddiecowan) November 25, 2017

Pat Cummins last over = Hostility ?#Ashes2017

— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) November 25, 2017

Just seen the score #Ashes ….great game …Smith the big difference …England vulnerable in 3rd innings

— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) November 25, 2017

This is the game right here…Root just has to go big or this is 1st Test done IMO #ashes

— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) November 25, 2017

Telling that after all the tough talk, Starc ran to check on Root, put a hand on his shoulder, have a conversation and apologise for hitting him. #Ashes

— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 25, 2017

Absolutely no doubt this final half hour today is the toughest test of Root's fledgling captaincy so far #ashes

— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) November 25, 2017

In other news, that's the perfect advertisement clip for Shrey Helmets. Nasty hit, not a patch on Root.

— Srinath (@srinathsripath) November 25, 2017

Nice of Channel Nine to make Andrew Strauss the answer to a trivia question while Kevin Pietersen is in the box #ashes

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) November 25, 2017

Pat Cummins played cricket in the over. Mark Stoneman gave a wonderful demonstration of being bullied…

— cricketingview (@cricketingview) November 25, 2017

Top stuff,
Real examination of your technique and temperament. #Ashes

— Athar ? (@cricdrugs) November 25, 2017

Even Tim Paine isn't able to read the bounce of Lyon. #Ashes

— Tabrez Shaikh (@its_tabrez_4u) November 25, 2017

Now over to Root and Stoneman. Northern lads doing us proud this morning

— Andy Wilson (@andywiz) November 25, 2017

Another fighting day of Test cricket. No team too far ahead thanks to the pitch which is starting to quicken. England will know they need to bat at least 3 sessions to be in a good position. Australia will want to keep taking wickets to push the game ahead. #Ashes

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 25, 2017

Cook out hooking. How rare is that? South Africa got him that way at Trent Bridge, from memory. This Test is The Biz. #Ashes

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 25, 2017

Smith hides Khawaja so well in the field that you can’t even see him in the huddle. #Ashes

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 25, 2017

While Virat Kohli is easily the greatest in this era when it comes to limited overs cricket, Steve Smith falls under the same bracket when it comes to the traditional format. #Ashes

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 25, 2017

Have to admire Shaun Marsh. Comes back and makes a hugely valuable score and he still gets no credit because someone else gets a big score in another game. Unbelievable areas.

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) November 25, 2017

Cummins hits a 5. Smith can only hit a 4 in response. And yet Smith is captain? Mental sport. #Ashes

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 25, 2017

Just give exactly similar seaming conditions of 1980s to Broad, Anderson, Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins. I will bet you the fourth innings would have started by now.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) November 25, 2017

BBC commentators surprised when Moeen gets one to turn, seem to think it's all luck despite the fact Lyon was doing it on day one

— Bob Bamber (@CricketFanBob) November 25, 2017

Brilliant commentary stint by @MClarke23 Good spot on Tim Paine’s technique. Can’t go back with that trigger movement. #Ashes

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 25, 2017

Remember what happened the last TWO times when an Australian captain scored a hundred in the Brisbane Test?

Australia whitewashed England 5️⃣-0️⃣

Ricky Ponting in 2006/07
Michael Clarke in 2013/14#Ashes

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) November 25, 2017

Looks like quiet on-field determination is doing quite well against pre-game thunder talk! #Ashes

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 25, 2017

YEEEESSSS! Broady you beauty! Come on @englandcricket #ashes

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 25, 2017

I have tea, I have biscuits, I have a warm Spaniel next to me, I'm wide awake and I'm poised, like a coiled spring, for @bbctms #Ashes

— Lydia Jane (@LydiaJane13) November 24, 2017

Pat Cummins is Australia’s STAR! Bowls fast, bats like a batter & super athletic! #Ashes

— KP (@KP24) November 25, 2017

Smith's adaptability to most Test pitches around the world makes him the best Test batsman among those four – Root, Kohli, Williamson.

Marginal call but think he owns that position right now.#Ashes

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) November 25, 2017

If Steve Smith isn't holding together a disappointing Aussie batting attack is it even the Summer of Cricket? #Ashes

— TAB (@tabcomau) November 25, 2017

England ON TOP! #Ashes

— KP (@KP24) November 25, 2017

Time Magazine wanted to name Steve Smith their 'Person of the Year' but he was too busy to do the photoshoot. #Ashes

— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) November 25, 2017

Pat Cummins could become Australia’s Ashwin with the bat. Ashwin is a little more attacking but Cummins has a better defense & is technically more solid. This #Ashes could be the making of Pat Cummins – the all rounder.

— Arjun Ashok (@arj_90) November 25, 2017

*Outside Home*
(In Test Cricket)

➡️ J Anderson ?
Inns – 98, Wkts – 173

➡️ Z Khan ?
Inns – 95, Wkts – 207#Ashes

— Ｒｐराजपूत ? ?? (@TheRpRajput) November 25, 2017

Steve Smith bats like one of those tailenders that you can never get out, even though they look hopeless. Then all of a sudden, he's got a hundred . . . #Ashes

— Front Foot Cricket (@FrontFootCric) November 25, 2017

To put Steve Smith’s batting in context … he could now make 19 consecutive ducks and still average 50 #Ashes

— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) November 25, 2017

Most runs after first 57 Tests:

Don Bradman – 6996 (52 Tests)

Steve Smith – 5473*

Sunil Gavaskar – 5460 #Ashes

— Jacob Kuriype (@JacobKuriype) November 25, 2017