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4 Years After Scoring A Double Century At Old Trafford, Steve Smith Could’ve Been Out For A Duck Had Mark Wood Done This

Dixit Bhargav
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4 Years After Scoring A Double Century At Old Trafford, Steve Smith Could've Been Out For A Duck Had Mark Wood Done This

Playing a Test match at the Old Trafford four years after scoring a double century here in 2019, Australia vice-captain Steve Smith (41) could’ve been dismissed for a duck had England fast bowler Mark Wood not erred at fine leg.

Coming in to bat at his usual No. 4 position following the dismissal of veteran opener David Warner (32), Smith’s ultra positive approach to take on the English bowling attack had it in it to bring his downfall from the word go.

That said, the 34-year old player should consider himself lucky not only for surviving a golden duck but also managing to continue with his aggressive intent in the first session of the fourth Ashes 2023 Test match on Wednesday.

Steve Smith Could’ve Been Out For A Duck Had Mark Wood Done This

It all happened on the second delivery of the 15th over when Smith hooked a Chris Woakes delivery towards Wood. Not that he ran towards the ball after misjudging it but Wood’s original fielding placement being quite a few feet away from the boundary ropes saved Smith.

Even though the tall cricketer tried his best to back step and claim a diving catch, his effort wasn’t enough to dismiss the batter eventually. Taking into consideration how close England were to dismiss two top Australian batters on consecutive deliveries, a few of their players had rightly placed their hands on their heads in frustration.

Woakes, who is redefining male friendship with Wood, could have picked a second wicket in what was his first spell of the match. That said, Wood took the onus upon himself to send Smith back to the pavilion in the second session after finding him wanting in front of the stumps.

Steve Smith Had Scored Third Test Double Century At Old Trafford

In what was his second Manchester Test, Smith had scored a 26th Test century and a third double century in a match-winning effort. Batting at the same number then as well, Smith’s innings had played a titular role in a 185-run victory ensuring his team’s unbeaten Test record at this stadium since 1981.

Smith, who had scored 211 (319) with the help of 24 fours and two sixes, had won a Player of the Match record for the 11th time in his Test career. Readers must note that he has won only two more match awards in this format since then.

Steve Smith Record In Manchester Tests

Smith, who has a terrific batting record at this ground, has returned with individual scores of 89, 19, 211, 82 and 41 across his five Test innings at the Old Trafford. Although he missed an opportunity of adding to this magnificent record today, it is noteworthy that Smith’s 442 runs have come at an average of 88.40 at this venue.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Dixit Bhargav

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Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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