Steve Smith is so good that even when he leaves the ball he you can’t look away

It was a tough third day for Australia at Lord’s with runs at a premium and England on top. But Steve Smith was still at the centre of attention with his ‘lightsaber’ none-shots. Enjoy them for yourself HERE.

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Another rain-affected day has further cemented the likelihood of a draw in the second Ashes Test, despite an entertaining session which included another worrying Australian top-order collapse.

Australia finished the day on 4-80, having lost 3-11 in a devastating spell midway through Friday morning – only to have Steve Smith (13 not out) and Matthew Wade (yet to score) guide them to stumps, or at least to lunch… which was when the rain set in.

The entire afternoon’s play was washed away by England’s persistent drizzle, halting the charge of Stuart Broad (2-26), Chris Woakes (1-27) and Jofra Archer, who enjoyed his maiden Test wicket.

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With two days to play just 14 wickets have fallen, meaning a result – while not impossible – seems a long way away for either team.

BANCROFT, KHAWAJA DIG IN

Arriving at Lord’s on Friday it felt like a dream scenario for England’s bowlers, with heavy skies giving the feel of a seamers delight – the sort of conditions that make Jimmy Anderson utterly unplayable.

Usman Khawaja played a gritty innings to open the day, but could not go on.

The overnight batsmen Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja played with their backs to the wall and did superbly to survive the opening 40 minutes – with Khawaja looking fluid while Bancroft gritted his teeth and wore several blows to the body.

It wasn’t pretty but the pair added 30 runs to the overnight total. Until it all went belly up, things actually looked quite encouraging for Australia.

STEVE SMITH’S QUIRKY LEAVES

During the most tense period of the day, when Chris Woakes had the ball hooping around corners and Jofra Archer was cracking the 150km/h barrier, Steve Smith grabbed the attention of the entire crowd at Lord’s.

Watching Steve Smith leave the ball the way he is doing is one the most funniest thing I've been upto in qiute a long time pic.twitter.com/MrFiEegOGQ

— Kaushal Singh (@kt_onTopp) August 16, 2019

Only it wasn’t for his stunning stroke play – a glorious cover drive or sweetly struck pull – but for the exact opposite: his elaborate leaves.

Smith is an eccentric player but as the tension is raised in a game situation his theatrical leaves become even more exaggerated.

Steve Smith really has mastered the art of the leave. #Ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/lUnWC1NgWV

— 🙄 (@retrorider78) August 16, 2019

“He explains every bit of cricket on the field with his movements after it’s happened,” Stuart Broad said.

"I've sort of fused Flashdance with MC Hammer ****"#EngvAus pic.twitter.com/CNWrZruCgE

— County Championship (@CountyChamp) August 16, 2019

“It’s the way he stays in his batting bubble and he does it very well.”

Weird and wonderful, and also brutally effective: Smith left half the balls he faced on Friday, and was still there at stumps.

Steve Smith is George Michael from AD in every way. Right down to the... #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ltfnUEeM0u

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) August 16, 2019

ARCHER TAKES FIRST TEST WICKET

It took something a bit special from Jofra Archer to change things up and the debutant let out a mighty roar when he got one to jag back and hit Bancroft high on the back leg.

Umpire Aleem Dar shot the finger up and, after a Bancroft review which showed the ball would’ve skimmed the bails, the opener was on his way for 13 – presumably the first of many to fall victim to a fired-up Archer.

Archer’s next ball was up to that point his fastest of the day, just shy of the 150km mark as it whizzed past Steve Smith’s nose as a welcome to the crease.

Archer revved up the crowd and breathed life into England’s attack.

CRICKET’S NEW ENTERTAINER

In fact, it won’t be long before Archer is everybody’s favourite cricketer.

The 24-year-old is a breath of fresh air for his demeanour and style, but also from a pure playing perspective.

He sent down the fastest deliveries of the match – topping 150km/h during one searing spell at Steve Smith – and even had the crowd edging forward in their seats when he picked up the ball in the field.

England's Jofra Archer looks like he has a long, thrilling Test career ahead of him.

He’s a whole lot of fun and cricket fans worldwide should hope he stays injury free so he can join Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah in the group of the world’s most exciting young pacemen.

BANCROFT EXIT SPARKS COLLAPSE

As often happens with two set batsmen, when one went the other followed.

Having looked near flawless throughout his patient stay at the crease, Khawaja lasted just three more balls after Bancroft’s dismissal before he was caught behind playing at a ball angled across the left-hander by the King of Lord’s Chris Woakes.

Cameron Bancroft’s wicket launched a mini-collapse in the Australian batting line-up.

Dismissed for 30, it’s the third time this series that Khawaja has enjoyed a steady start before falling when a big score beckoned.

With a further 11 runs added to the scoreboard, Travis Head was the next man out – trapped lbw for 7 in a comical decision that we’ll get to in a second – to cement the collapse of 3-11.

ALEEM DAR’S DRS HEADSCRATCHER

After being in the spotlight in the first Test, the umpires took a back seat on the second day of the Test with a flawless display.

They weren’t quite as fortunate on day three, with Dar making a howler as he gave Travis Head not out despite being struck on the pad on a delivery that would’ve split middle stump in two.

England immediately reviewed and the decision was overturned, while later Matthew Wade survived thanks to a review after being given out LBW to a Ben Stokes delivery which was pitching outside leg stump.

SMITH TO BLAME FOR DAR BLUNDER?

But Stuart Broad reckons Steve Smith might’ve had something to do with Dar getting gun-shy on the Head LBW.

The England quick believes Smith got inside Dar’s head for the appeal, which appeared live to be absolutely plumb – a point quickly proven by the replays.

“Out or not?” “Not sure ... what did Steve Smith think, that might give us a better idea ...” the umpires absolutely, unequivocally didn’t say to each other.

Dar’s hand left his pocket and it looked like Head was going to be given his marching orders… before a late change of heart.

“(Smith) might have even done Aleem Dar on Head’s lbw because he threw his arm out as if to say ‘that’s going down leg side’,” Broad said.

“I think Aleem was going to give it and maybe saw Steve’s hand go.”

ROOT’S CAPTAINCY QUESTIONED

It seems odd to think of it now, considering England well and truly turned the match in their favour on day three, but half an hour into play Joe Root’s captaincy came under the hammer.

He was blasted for field placings and for not opening the day with Chris Woakes – the Lord’s maestro who had the ball singing as soon as he joined the attack.

“Joe Root missed a trick this morning – he did. Chris Woakes should’ve started … Of course, there’s areas he could improve,” said Michael Vaughan on the BBC.

“But he’s got the second best win percentage behind Mike Brearley.”

Originally published as Steve Smith is so good that even when he leaves the ball he you can’t look away