In his first Test in 16 months, former captain becomes just second man this century to score twin tons in an Ashes Test
Steve the Unstoppable: Smith completes rare Ashes double
Steve Smith's complete dominance over England has gone to a new level with the Australian scoring another brilliant century in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Smith backed up his magnificent 144 in the first innings with Test century No.25 over the weekend in his comeback to Test cricket having been sidelined for the past 16 months.
A textbook cover drive off England paceman Stuart Broad brought up the milestone as he removed his helmet, saluted his teammates and received a hug from teammate Matt Wade.
Image Id: C192FB2F89304BA8A4DDECAF86BECD39 Image Caption: Smith shares an embrace with Wade // GettyEven the pro-England crowd and the Barmy Army withheld their boos to stand and applaud Smith.
The 30-year-old is the first batsman to score twin Ashes centuries since Matthew Hayden posted 197 and 103 in Brisbane in the opening Test of the 2002-03 series, and the first in 22 years to achieve the feat in England after Steve Waugh's 108 and 116 at Old Trafford.
He is now a member an exclusive club of just five Australians to score twin centuries in an Ashes Test, joining Hayden, Waugh, Arthur Morris (Adelaide, 1947) and Warren Bardsley (The Oval, 1909).
AUSTRALIANS TO SCORE TONS IN BOTH INNINGS OF AN ASHES TEST
Steve Smith - 144 and 142 at Edbgaston, 2019
Matthew Hayden - 197 and 103 at the Gabba, 2002
Steve Waugh - 108 and 116 at Old Trafford, 1997
Arthur Morris - 122 and 124* at Adelaide, 1947
Warren Bardsley - 136 and 130 at The Oval, 1909
Smith's second innings hundred also takes his tally of Ashes tons to 10, equal second with Waugh for the most by an Australian.
Sir Donald Bradman, naturally, has the most for either nation with 19.
And if those achievements were not impressive enough, the right-hander now holds the record for most runs after 119 Test innings.
Image Id: B013A928022C4E6A9784069C817EBBF3 Image Caption: Smith brought up his 25th Test century in the second innings // GettySmith's 6446 career runs (and counting) eclipsed the mark of 6440 held by England legend Wally Hammond in 1939.
Smith walked to the crease inside the first 10 overs for the second time in the match on Saturday evening with the tourists in strife at 2-27 and trailing England by 63 runs.
By the time he raised his bat for his century, Smith given Australia a fighting chance of taking out the first Test as the visitors look to win the Ashes on foreign soil for the first time since Waugh's side in 2001.
Smith now averages 60.84 in Ashes contests and has amassed 1116 runs in his past 10 Test innings against England, a prolific period featuring six hundreds.
Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle shared a vital 88-run partnership with Smith on day one and had a feeling the former No.1 batsman in the world had some more magic left in him.
"He's unbelievable," Siddle told cricket.com.au before play on Sunday.
"The way he went about it in the first innings, that was amazing.
"To see him dig in yesterday, another tough period for him, he's all class.
"Hopefully today he can show what he's all about and we get to witness something special once again."
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), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston
Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9
Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's
Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley
Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31
Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford
Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval