Published 18:39 IST, September 4th 2019

Steve Smith holds Australia firm as he makes Ashes return in 4th Test

Steve Smith marked his Test return after suffering concussion by helping Australia recover from the early loss of their openers on the day one of 4th Test.

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

Steve Smith marked his Test return after suffering concussion by helping Australia recover from early loss of ir openers on first day of fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Australia were 98-2 off 26 overs at lunch after Stuart Broad's double strike, which included David Warner's exit for a duck, reduced m to 28-2. Marnus Labuschagne was 49 t out and on verge of his fourth successive Test fifty since coming in as Smith's concussion substitute. Steve Smith, felled by a 92 miles-per-hour (148 kph) Jofra Archer bouncer in drawn second Test at Lord's, was 28 t out after adding an unbroken 70 for third wicket with Labuschagne.

READ | Misbah-ul-Haq named Pakistan's coach-cum-selector, Waqar returns 

Advertisement

Stuart Broad strikes early

Ashes-holders Australia were looking to bounce back from a stunning one-wicket defeat in third Test at Headingley where Ben Stokes's 135 t out saw England square five-match series at 1-1. Australia captain Tim Paine took bold decision to bat first after winning toss, even though both top orders have struggled this Ashes. But just four balls into innings Broad, again leading England's attack in ongoing absence of regular new-ball partner James Anderson, had Warner caught behind for ught as he tried to withdraw his bat -- a carbon copy of one of left-hander's dismissals earlier this series. It was fifth time Broad had snared Warner this series. Marcus Harris had kept his place alongside Warner at top of order after Australia dropped struggling Usman Khawaja. But left-hander fell for 13 when Broad trapped him lbw from around wicket with a ball that nipped back. Kumar Dharmasena eventually responded to Broad's prolonged appeal by raising his finger, with his decision upheld on umpire's call after Harris's review, leaving Australia in trouble at 28-2.

READ | Adam Gilchrist Makes ' DRS' Cry At Harbhajan Singh's Test Hat-trick

Advertisement

Steve Smith once again holds ground for Australia

Harris's exit brought Steve Smith to crease for his first Test innings since Lord's, a match where he made 92 despite being struck by Archer. Steve Smith, who had scored 144 and 142 in Australia's 251-run win in series opener at Edgbaston -- his first Test since a 12-month ball-tampering ban -- left his first ball, from Archer. But Smith, top of world Test batting rankings, got off mark fifth ball by expertly driving Archer through extra-cover for four. All-rounder Stokes did cut one back sharply to Labuschagne but England's review of Marais Erasmus's t out lbw decision foundered on umpire's call. Steve Smith was soon back in old routine, pulling Stokes for four, with Labuschagne square-driving fast bowler Craig Overton, only change to England's side, for his eighth boundary.

READ | Ravichandran Ashwin set to leave IPL side KXIP & join Delhi Capitals  

Advertisement

READ: Rashid Khan to be youngest Test captain, as Afghanistan tours B'desh

18:28 IST, September 4th 2019