Ashes 2019: Steve Smith's tenacious knock defies England's pace dominance and tough conditions to guide Australia to 284 runs

Steve Smith played a whacker of a knock in Australia's first game in the Ashes, sparing the blushes for the visiting team as he put on a gritty 144 runs off 214 balls, resurrecting the team's innings after what looked like a brutal attack from the hosts.

England's Stuart Broad ended the innings with figures of 5-86 along with pacer Chris Woakes, rattling the Australian batting line -up and reducing them to a mere 122 runs for the loss of eight wickets following which Steve Smith struck form and the rest of his innings was a life-saving one for the team. 

Steve Smith braves through tough pitch conditions

While most of the Australian line-up collapsed under the unforgiving conditions of the pitch at Edgbaston, Smith rebuilt the innings for the Baggy Greens and held his nerve to guide Australia to a decent 284 runs before they were bowled out. The former skipper's patient knock featured 16 boundaries and two sixes, as he chose to put up a classic display of a Test batsman, earning praises from the cricketing fraternity.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag applauded Steve Smith for his knock under difficult conditions and said that he was arguably one of the best batsmzn in the world. Here are the wishes from Sehwag:

Former Indian Test cricketer VVS Laxman too took to social media to laud in what he termed as Smith's comeback match knock, which was filled with intensity, tenacity and a witty knock. Read Laxman's tweet here:

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle was all praises for Smith as he called him a genuine great in Test cricket. Read Bhogle's tweet here:

Former England opener Michael Vaughan too took to social media to admire Smith's outstanding knock in his first Test since a year and four months since he was handed the one year ban for the sandpaper gate during the South Africa series in 2018. Read Vaughan's tweet here:

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One batsman that defied England's pace battery and tough conditions 

Steve Smith was the only pillar that stood firm in Australia's innings that collapsed like a pack of cards under the tough pitch conditions and a dominating pace attack from the Broad-Woakes combo. After putting up a spectacular comeback for England in their game against Ireland, the duo went to wreck through the Australian line-up and reducing them to 122-8 before Steve Smith assumed center-stage.

A delayed start due to rain added to Australia's troubles, a troubled innings that saw David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, skipper Tim Paine, and wicketkeeper Mathew Wade being dismissed in single figures. Tailender Peter Siddle stitched a must-needed partnership with Smith to help Australia cover more ground, inching towards 250 runs.      

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