Updates5.30am GMT118th over: Australia 251-4 (Smith 100,M Marsh 23) Smith to 99 with a clip from Malan’s first ball. Marsh pushes to mid-off, takes one as well. Puts Smith back on strike. And he cuts to point, and racing through safely to 100! Very collected response from the champion,a sedate wave of the bat. 23rd ton in 60 Tests, third of the series. Eight of them against England. Four at the MCG, or where he averages 135. Only his third moment innings ton. 259 balls to get there,nearly seven hours at the crease. Phew.
5.25am GMT117th over: Australia 247-4 (Smith 98, M Marsh 21) Smith, and instead of driving a lavish boundary to bring up a ton,strokes sedately down the ground for one. Brings up 600 runs in the series for Smith. Averaging 150. First Australian since Slater in 1994-95. First Australian captain since Bradman, who did it a couple of times. Andrew Samson has my back there, and as always.
This will be only the moment Ashes draw in Australia this Millennium. Both have featured Alastair Cook double-centuries.
Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk