Australian News Today

First Test live: Steve Smith’s chance arrives after Aussie horror show

First Test live: Steve Smith’s chance arrives after Aussie horror show

The 35-year-old will walk out this morning with Usman Khawaja with all the pressure on him.

Smith is on a pair, and just surviving one ball will surely ease the mind.

How long can he last against Jasprit Bumrah and co?

For all the criticism around his move to open last summer, he carried his bat in the fourth innings when Australia lost by eight runs to the West Indies in Brisbane.

Can he turn back the clock 10 months?

He’s yet to score a fourth-innings century in his career, coming closest 10 years ago against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

But the idea of breaking that drought can wait.

“Be great for Australia to see him some pile on some runs,” Aaron Finch says on Channel 7.

“Or even just bat some time in the middle, just to get some rhythm, along with Usman Khawaja, and stretch out this innings as long as they can.”

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