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Ashes 2019: Steve Smith, Matthew Wade tons put Australia in sight of Test win

Steve Smith and Matthew Wade lead Australia to a stunning Test turnaround | WATCH

Peter Lalor and Tom Crystal
9 min read
4:16AMAugust 05, 2019.
Updated 12:34PMAugust 05, 2019
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Steve Smith and Matthew Wade scored brilliant centuries on day four of the first Test. Picture: AFP
Steve Smith and Matthew Wade scored brilliant centuries on day four of the first Test. Picture: AFP

Ashes 2019: Australia vs England, first Test, day four at Edgbaston. England are 0-13 at stumps, needing another 385 to win.

Aussies eye victory charge

England’s Jason Roy and Rory Burns survived the seven overs to stumps but the home team must hold off Australia for one more day to avoid defeat at Edgbaston in the first Test, Peter Lalor writes.

They trail by 385 runs after a day of brilliant batting by Australia, featuring another century from Steve Smith, and Matthew Wade’s first Test ton since 2013.

Australia’s 7-487 ranks as their third-highest score in England.

The balls aren’t swinging, the pitch is flat and batting has gotten easier as the game progresses, which is slightly disappointing, but Australia will be confident they can take the 10 wickets which stand between them and a 1-0 lead in the series. England are 0-13.

"I have never doubted my ability": Steve Smith

Match blog below — how day four unfolded:

3.30am: England openers survive

James Pattinson beats the edge of Jason Roy with the last ball of the day but, importantly, both openers walk off together at stumps on day four. Roy has six, Rory Burns seven. A remarkable day’s play ends with Australia the only team who can with this Test. The biggest fourth-innings run-chase at this ground 283, by South Africa in 2011. Nathan Lyon will be the key for Australia on day five.

3.15am: Cautious start

Somewhat surprisingly, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon have been given the new ball. Lyon manages to turn a few dangerously from outside Jason Roy’s off stump. Roy and Rory Burns don’t look too troubled early, however.

England opener Rory Burns gets right behind a ball from Peter Siddle. Picture: AFP
England opener Rory Burns gets right behind a ball from Peter Siddle. Picture: AFP

Peter Lalor 3am: Best of seven

Tim Paine has put the England bowlers out of their misery and declared on 7-487.

The home team have to survive seven overs in the half light tonight and a full day tomorrow.

It was hard work for their bowlers with James Anderson unable to return after his first spell of the game.

Pattinson (47no) and Cummins (28no) were at the crease when the declaration occurred.

The light is touch and go here, but it’s bright enough to get on and the rain has held off. There is talk of some early rain tomorrow.

The wicket is flat and Australia have to strike early, as batting is easy when the ball gets old.

Tim Paine calls his batsmen in. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine calls his batsmen in. Picture: Getty Images

2.50am: The declaration

Well, that was fun! Australia declare their innings after James Pattinson and Pat Cummins slog their way to an eighth-wicket partnership of 78 from 12.2 overs. Pattinson belted four sixes and two fours as he finishes on 47 from 48 balls. Cummins picks up 26. England need 397 to win.

England opener Rory Burns ponders his soon-to-begin second innings. Picture: Getty Images
England opener Rory Burns ponders his soon-to-begin second innings. Picture: Getty Images

2.25am: Tail wagging, thumping

James Pattinson and Pat Cummins get a chance to flash the willow without consequence, as Australia look to set England a big total. Pattinson smacks Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad over the fence in consecutive overs. He races to 30 off 34 balls, while Cummins has nine. The lead is more than 350 now.

James Pattinson keeps his eyes on the ball. Picture: Getty Images
James Pattinson keeps his eyes on the ball. Picture: Getty Images

1.55am: WICKET!

Welcome to the party, Moeen Ali. The spinner gets his first for the day, worth the wait too. Sharp turn that jags back from outside off and through Tim Paine’s defence, slamming into the pegs. A breezy knock of 34, with two fours and one six. Nathan Lyon is sure to have taken note of that one.

1.44am: WICKET!

Matthew Wade pulls a Ben Stokes short ball down to Joe Denly at deep square leg. Well hit but straight to the fielder. The end of a magnificent innings — 110 off 143 balls, with 17 boundaries. Wade and Tim Paine really upped the ante, adding 76 runs off 13.1 overs for the sixth wicket to put Australia in a commanding position.

Peter Lalor 1.35am: Many happy returns

Matthew Wade has made a century in his first Test back after two years knocking down doors in the domestic competition. It is the first time he has reached three figures at this level since Sri Lanka in 2013.

Wade’s century off 132 balls included 16 boundaries and a 127-run partnership with Steve Smith. He put on 60 runs with fellow Tasmanian Tim Paine.

Australia now have a 300-run lead.

1.21am: CENTURY TO WADE!

What a way for Matthew Wade to bring up his third Test century — an audacious reverse sweep for four. Smith will get the headlines but this innings has been just as important. The left-hander was solid in defence early, then opened up with some wonderful shots. A fantastic knock — it took 131 balls and contained 16 boundaries.

Matthew Wade pulls out a reverse sweep to reach his ton. Picture: Getty Images
Matthew Wade pulls out a reverse sweep to reach his ton. Picture: Getty Images

1.10am: House of Paine

Tim Paine shows off his batting chops with a six over point off Ben Stokes, then a boundary down the ground next ball. He now has 1000 Test runs.

1am: Final session begins

Joe Root will begin post-Tea with his right-arm off-spinners. He’s looked good — Nathan Lyon will be grinning at the thought of what he might be able to conjure on this wearing deck.

12.42am: That’s Tea

Things could have gone better for Australia in that session ... but not by much. They lost 1-125 off 29 overs, bumping the lead out to 266 runs. Matthew Wade puts an exclamation mark on it with a brilliant flick behind square leg for four off the final ball of the session. He has 86 in what could be the making of his Test career. Skipper Tim Paine has seven.

12.25am: WICKET!

It’s the big one: Steve Smith. He slashes at a wide Chris Woakes offering and nicks it to Jonny Bairstow diving forward. His brilliant 142 contained 14 boundaries and came off 207 balls. Smith combined for 126 runs with Matthew Wade, giving Australia a lead of 241 runs.

12.16am: Wicket ... almost

Stuart Broad has the new ball. His second delivery with it nips back and hits Matthew Wade on the pads. He’s given out by umpire Joel Wilson but an immediate challenge shows it’s too high. That’s just how things are going for England at the moment.

12.05am: Century stand

England skipper Joe Root is bowling now, his right-arm offies proving more threatening than those of Moeen Ali. He’s getting great turn and bounce, drawing the odd false shot from Matthew Wade. Smith and his batting partner bring up 100 runs for the fifth wicket. The second new ball is now available.

11.55pm: 50 for Matthew Wade

A cheeky reverse sweep, so fine it nearly hits the helmet behind wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, races away for four. It’s the left-hander’s fifth Test half-century.

11.45pm: Runs flowing now

Moeen Ali comes in for some tap from Steve Smith — a thick edge for four and then a slog out towards the mid-wicket fence. The spinner’s next over produces a big appeal for lbw, and a challenge, as Smith is rapped on the pads. England are desperate for a wicket — the ball is comfortably missing leg stump. The lead hits 200 at drinks.

11.25pm: 50 partnership

Matthew Wade gets a tickle on an errant Chris Woakes ball and it reaches the fine leg boundary. It takes him to 29 and brings up the 50 stand. The lead is out to 168 runs. Steve Smith tries a reverse sweep, just for kicks.

11.13pm: How good is Steve Smith!?

Peter Lalor 10.55pm: The best since Bradman

He’s done it again. Two innings back from exile and two hundreds to his name. It is becoming increasingly obvious that there has only ever been one batsman better in the history of the game.

Steve Smith is driving the English mad with his persistence, but he is making up for lost time. It’s almost as if he wants to get back every run he should have made during a year-long ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal.

He is a level above everybody else in this match, and if he retired now only Don Bradman would have a better average.

Smith’s second innings century was as valuable as his lone-hand 144 in the first. He joins Warren Bardsley (1909 Oval), Arthur Morris (Adelaide 1946-47), Steve Waugh (Manchester 1997) and Matthew Hayden (2002-03) on the list of batsmen who have backed up in the same Test.

Smith salutes the crowd after reaching triple figures. Picture: Getty Images
Smith salutes the crowd after reaching triple figures. Picture: Getty Images

10.47pm: CENTURY TO SMITH!

Steve Smith gets his second century of the match and the 25th of his career. It comes via a glorious cover drive for four off Stuart Broad. It takes 147 balls, with 10 boundaries. Smith becomes just the fifth Australian to score centuries in each innings of an Ashes Test.

10.40pm: We’re back after the break

Chris Woakes will lead off, bowling to Steve Smith on 98. Smith works the first ball to fine leg, moving to 99.

10pm: Lunch

Steve Smith is just two runs away from another century as Australia end the first session right back in this game. Matthew Wade has 15 and the lead is 141. Australia added 107 runs for the loss of just one wicket — they’d be happy with that.

Steve Smith leads the charge. Picture: Getty Images
Steve Smith leads the charge. Picture: Getty Images

9.35pm: WICKET!

Ben Stokes again gets the breakthrough, producing a slower ball that draws a fine edge from Travis Head. A huge wicket, just as England were grasping for ideas. Head departs for 51 off 116 balls, ending a 120-run partnership.

9.30pm: 50 for Travis Head

A lovely cut behind point brings up Head’s sixth half-century in nine Tests. It’s taken 111 balls and contained six boundaries.

9.20pm: Action aplenty!

A burst of activity after what has been a tight opening. Steve Smith guides Ben Stokes wide of slips to the third-man boundary, then caresses a square drive for four. The follow-up is a clip off the pads barely wide of Jason Roy at leg slip. It would have been a screamer if the fielder had snared that one. Smith moves to 77.

9.05pm: So far, so good (for Australia)

An hour in and it’s been a good one for Australia — 52 runs without loss. Travis Head clips Ben Stokes off his hip to bring up the 100 partnership. He has 46, Smith 66. The lead is 86.

8.45pm: Decent Head start

Travis Head hits out. Picture: Getty
Travis Head hits out. Picture: Getty

It’s not just the Steve Smith show out there — Travis Head is digging in too. His defence is compact and he’s not afraid to go after anything that drifts onto the pads. The left-hander peels two boundaries off Stuart Broad — down to fine leg and then whipped off the pads to mid-wicket. He has 35 from 76 balls.

8.30pm: Tension high

Stuart Broad is giving everything in his first spell, and he’s troubled both batsman. He induces a rare play and miss from Steve Smith, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd, and then a loose stroke from the same batsman that goes for four, but in the air. That could have gone anywhere — a rare mistake.

8.15pm: 50 for Steve Smith

The right-hander works Stuart Broad behind point and reaches his half-century, off 69 balls with three boundaries. He’ll be out to add another 50, with interest.

Travis Head survives a close lbw shout from Stuart Broad. Picture: AP
Travis Head survives a close lbw shout from Stuart Broad. Picture: AP

8.10pm: Yes, it was that bad

Something for everyone in Moeen Ali’s first over:

8pm: We’re underway

Off-spinner Moeen Ali gets the honours for England, bowling to Steve Smith. The first ball of the day keeps low and shoots through at ankle height. Look out! That could be the way to remove stubborn Steve Smith. Ali goes the other way with his fifth delivery — it goes way over Smith’s head and is called no-ball as the batsman tries a tennis-style overhead.

7.45pm: Pitch report

Former Test skipper Mark Taylor, part of Nine’s coverage, has had a good look at the Edgbaston deck and expects it to turn, but slowly. “The ball is not coming on to the bat,” Taylor says. “The batsmen will have to be patient. They might have to eke out two to three runs per over, for a long time, and not go after boundaries.”

Steve Smith warms up before play. Picture: AP
Steve Smith warms up before play. Picture: AP

7.30pm: Eye on the sky

Conditions are cool in Edgbaston, with a light cloud cover and a temperature of 20C rising to a top of 23C. If anything, it will suit the bowlers early.

Smith begins rescue mission

Steve Smith will look to guide Australia to a defendable lead when Australia resume their second innings on day four, AP reports.

Smith, who hit 144 in Australia’s first-innings 284, was 46 not out off 61 balls at the end of day three. Travis Head is 21 not out in a fourth-wicket partnership of 49 so far.

England will be slightly worried that the ongoing presence of Smith could help the tourists build a lead that, on a deteriorating wicket, may prove uncomfortable to chase down.

The absence of Jimmy Anderson, who limped through for singles then was unable to bowl because of his calf injury, meant England’s first-innings lead of 90 runs was not as intimidating as it otherwise would be.

But recent history underlines the enormity of the challenge confronting Australia. Not since 1981 have the tourists won an Ashes Test in England after conceding a first-innings lead.

— AP

While Smith remains, anything is possible

His teammates keep asking miracles of him, and Steve Smith responds with true grit, Gideon Haigh writes. Read more here

Steve Smith has been helping out Tim Paine during the first Test. Picture: Getty Images
Steve Smith has been helping out Tim Paine during the first Test. Picture: Getty Images

Paine has someone to lean on

Steve Smith might not be captain of the Australian side and may be banned from any such role for the time being, but he is clearly the senior batsman, leading by example and weight of runs in his first Test on return, Peter Lalor writes. Read more here

David Warner heads back to the pavilion after his second-innings dismissal. Picture: Getty Images
David Warner heads back to the pavilion after his second-innings dismissal. Picture: Getty Images

Brittle batting crumbles again

It’s too early to panic, but the early Ashes form of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft is a little worrying, while Usman Khawaja needs to deliver more than a good-looking 40. Read more here

Read related topics:Ashes

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