Smith's response to Edgbaston struggles show exactly why England are sick of him
When Steve Smith walked to the crease early on Wednesday afternoon, he was jeered by some of the Lord’s patrons.
To be fair, getting some stick from a typical Home of Cricket crowd brings to mind the old line from Labour chancellor Denis Healey when asked about a verbal attack by his opposite number on the Conservative benches, Geoffrey Howe.
“Like being savaged by a dead sheep,” deadpanned Denis.
Lord’s is many things but a bear pit, it ain’t.
Still, the barracking seemed a bit harsh considering the last time Smith played in an Ashes Test here, he was knocked out by a 95mph rock from Jofra Archer after being peppered by the England quick bowler for most of the day.
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That Smith had got to 80 when he was flattened by Archer’s express bouncer says a lot about Australia’s former captain - as does the fact he returned from a concussion absence to score a double hundred in his next appearance in that series.
(He had also scored a double hundred at Lord's in the Ashes series of 2015.)
Whatever you think of Smith and a career studded by controversy, he has got some heart. Mind you, a few boos from the post-lunch punters at the world’s most civilised sporting venue were never going to unnerve him.
While his first-day, unbeaten knock of 85 was hardly a thing of stunning beauty, it was a reminder of what England are up against this summer. The obsession with Bazball has diverted attention from the basic, traditional excellence of this Australian team that is epitomised by Smith.
Smith responded to his struggles in the first test with a trademark displayHow did Smith, playing in his 99th Test, respond to being dismissed for 6 and 16 in the opening match at Edgbaston? By knuckling down and playing each ball on its merits.
How did Smith respond to dropping to sixth in the world batting rankings? By redoubling his time in the nets.
There was the odd flurry of swaggering brilliance although he was forced to follow two boundaries off Stuart Broad with a successful review of a caught-behind. But there was nothing fortunate about Smith’s innings, which featured in two century partnerships - one with the equally careful Marnus Labuschagne, the other with the buccaneering Travis Head.
Smith, 34, has now passed 9,000 Test runs and only Kumar Sangakkara has reached that landmark in fewer innings (172 compared to 174). He is the fourth Australian to reach that total, after Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Smith’s average at Lord’s is around the mid-fifty mark and his Ashes average is a smidgeon shy of sixty. But never mind the statistics, Smith almost always assumes a sense of responsibility when it is needed most.
It is not quite anti-Bazball but it is not far off.
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When Head had a rush of blood and an even bigger rush went to Cameron Green’s head, Smith took Alex Carey under his wing and bedded down until the close of play.
While Joe Root’s late successes gave England hope, they will know that Smith, for all his watchfulness on day one, can take this Test match away from them on day two.
And if that Archer missile from four years ago could not faze him, a few jeers from the Lord’s locals are likely to be of much use to an England team that has long been sick of the sight of a truly fearless opponent.
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