Steve Smith breaks 100-year-old record as Aussies control WTC final
Steve Smith has long adored the home of cricket and created a special piece of history on day one of the World Test Championship final.
Controversial South African quick Kagiso Rabada hit first in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s before Steve Smith, Beau Webster and the Aussie bowlers led a fightback that left the defending champion in a strong position.
Australia was dismissed for just 212 after South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss in bowler-friendly conditions, with pace spearhead Rabada taking 5/51.
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But at stumps South Africa had slumped to 4/43 in reply, a deficit of 169 runs, as Mitchell Starc finished the day with figures of 2/10 in seven overs.
Given the strength of both teams’ pace attacks, the key question was always likely to be which side could put enough runs on the scoreboard.
With Steve Smith batting at Lord’s - Australia liked its chances.
The best Test batsman of his generation scored a crucial 66 after an early Aussie collapse to take his personal tally at the home of cricket to 591 runs.
“Steve Smith is different gravy,” Darren Berry tweeted. “The ugly duckling that just keeps on finding a way to get the job done.”
The knock took Smith past legendary names like Don Bradman (551), Garry Sobers (571) and another Aussie Warren Bardsley (575) who has held the record for the most runs at Lord’s by a touring player since 1926.
In his past six innings at the ground, Australia’s number four has scored 110, 34, 92, 215, 58 and now 66 at an average of nearly 96.
“It felt good. I found a nice place and I love batting here at Lord’s. I enjoyed my time out there while I was out there and, yeah, I left a few in the shed, unfortunately,” he said.
Australia’s total certainly looked a lot healthier when left-arm quick Starc had Aiden Markram playing on for a duck before dismissing Ryan Rickelton (16) to leave South Africa floundering at 2/19.
Novice number three Wiaan Mulder, dropped on one, was bowled by Australia captain Pat Cummins, having taken 44 balls to make six.
And shortly before the close, Josh Hazlewood bowled Tristan Stubbs.
Australia had earlier slumped to 4/67 at lunch. But all-rounder Beau Webster (72) helped Smith repair the damage with a fifth-wicket stand of 79.
“Two good bowling outfits, it was tough work for the batters,” Webster told the BBC. “We’ve got a score on the board and to grab four scalps at the end of the day, I think we’re pretty happy.” Webster, however, would have been lbw to Rabada for eight if South Africa had reviewed an original not out decision.
“There were a couple of reviews throughout the day which could’ve gone either way,” said Webster. “The degree of seam movement up the slope was tricky.”
Australia were in desperate trouble in the early overs, reduced to 16-2 after losing Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in a single Rabada over.
The 30-year-old, who has more than 300 Test wickets, is playing his first Test after serving a one-month ban for cocaine use earlier this year.
“It means a lot for me playing for South Africa, I give my all each and every time. I am so happy to do the job out there,” Rabada told Sky Sports.
Former Australian captain Tim Paine was among those slamming the process that allowed Rabada to serve a brief ban before being cleared to play this final at Lord’s, with the Tasmanian declaring “it stinks”.
“Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month,” Paine said on SEN Radio last month.
“A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.
“If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that.”
The positive test was recorded during the South African T20 league in January, but Rabada went to India and played for Gujarat Titans before taking a “provisional suspension” that ended early last month.
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Under World Anti-Doping Authority regulations, a positive test is regarded as “out of competition” if the player can prove the drug use took place before 11.59pm on the eve of competition and was not intended to enhance performance.
Australia has struggled to find an opening partner for Khawaja since David Warner’s retirement 17 months ago, with Marnus Labuschagne the latest batsman tried out.
The 30-year-old, without a Test century for nearly two years, battled hard for 17 off 56 balls before falling to towering left-armer Jansen.
Australia had been in similar trouble in the 2023 final against India across London at The Oval, only for Smith and Travis Head to both score hundreds as they turned the match in their favour.
Head, however, could only manage 11 before he glanced Jansen, with Kyle Verreynne holding an excellent diving one-handed catch.
Smith went to fifty before falling to part-time spinner Markram after Jansen, at slip, clung on at the third attempt.
Australia lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, with Rabada ending the innings when he bowled Starc.
Rabada’s haul meant he surpassed Allan Donald’s tally of 330 Test wickets in his 71st match compared to the retired South Africa great’s 72 Tests.
“That’s awesome,” said Rabada. “Allan Donald, what a legend, it means a lot to get past someone like him.”
South African captain Temba Bavuma made a huge decision after winning the toss, sending Australia in to bat in overcast conditions.
“We’ll have a bowl first,” Bavuma said. “Surface looks a good one, overhead conditions dictate that we’ll bowl first, while we have the new ball we’ll try to make some inroads in the Australian batting line-up.”
Cummins then said his side was quite pleased to be getting first crack with the bat.
“We’re happy to bat first. Looks like a pretty good wicket, a few clouds but pretty normal for England,” he said.
“Looks pretty dry, might turn later in the match.”
The Aussie skipper was also asked about Labuschagne as he opened for the first time in Test cricket against a strong South African pace attack.
“He’ll get straight into it. Preparation has been unreal, there’s been 15 guys pushing for that final 11. All the guys in the team are ready to go.
“We’ve had a really good, about 10-day preparation, and we’re ready to go.”
Fans were quick to vent their feelings online towards South Africa’s decision to bowl and the new look Australian top order.
X account Aus Cricket Fan wrote: “If the opposition is bowling first and you have a very new looking top order, it really doesn’t give you much confidence.”
Coach Lukas tweeted: “That’s a very strange decision to bowl first by South Africa. Maybe Labuschagne opening and Green at 3 they sense an opportunity.”
Chloe MacSweeney said: “Every time we think Marnus is on the brink, he somehow comes out the other side unscathed. We get to find out very early how hard it will be this time. Come on Marnus!”
Teams for the World Test Championship final
Australia XI: Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
- with AFP
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