Smith pours cold water on England's bouncer tactics

Red-hot Australia batsman Steve Smith poured cold water over England's bowling tactics on day two at Old Trafford where the visitors racked up a mammoth first innings total to seize control of the fourth Ashes Test.

Smith's 211 was the backbone of Australia's 8-497dec and the No.4 was the focal point of England's bowling attack which threw everything and the kitchen sink trying to dismiss him.

In the end it was Smith who got himself out – reverse-sweeping an unthreatening off-break from England captain Joe Root – but not before the hosts peppered the right-hander with short-pitched bowling with the second new ball.

Smith missed the third Test at Headingley due to the concussion he suffered in the wake of being hit in the back of the neck by a searing Jofra Archer bouncer on day four at Lord's.

That fiery bouncer barrage from Archer is the only time this series Smith has looked noticeably out of his comfort zone.

But despite being struck twice by the express England paceman in that second Test, Smith was quick to point out last week that Archer did not dismiss him. After another record-breaking day of batting, that remains the case.

Archer tried to make lightning strike twice with another series of bouncers at Smith's head, but the Australian was up to the task and said the short-ball tactic actually aided the visitors.

"Lord's was a tough wicket; it was up and down and with the slope, his angle wasn't very easy with the wicket being up-and-down," Smith said on Thursday evening.

"That was hard work and I said before the game that if they bowl a lot at my head then they're not bowling at my stumps and trying to get me out lbw and caught behind the wicket.

"And I think that perhaps played into our favour a little bit in this innings.

"I think we saw when Stuart Broad came on with the (second) new ball, he bowled some really nice lengths and beat my bat on the outside a couple of times and I got an inside-edge to fine-leg.

"He was quite challenging when he hit that length.

"For them to go as short as they did and as early as they did with the new ball, softened that ball up and played into our hands."

Smith, however, did ride his luck on Thursday.

He was dropped on 65 by Archer, whose best chance of dismissing the Australian was ironically with a full toss that was hit back at him, but the right-armer could not hold on.

Smith was then caught at first slip from the bowling of left-arm spinner Jack Leach on 118, but replays showed the bowler had not put any part of his front foot behind the popping crease and he was belatedly called for a no-ball.

England gloveman Jonny Bairstow had perhaps the best seat in the house to watch Smith's remarkable innings, and while he paid credit to the Australian, he defended England's bowling tactics.

"Fair play to the way Smith has come out and played," Bairstow said.

"He's obviously got the bit between his teeth and is in great form.

"You've got to give him a lot of credit for the way he's applied himself and scored the runs that he has.

"I'm not sure we're the only team around the world who've tried a few different plans.

"We'll be sticking to the plans we've got.

"He played and missed at some balls today which we've not seen him play and miss at previously in the series and on another day we get him out slightly earlier."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval