On This Day: Steve Smith Announces His Test Comeback with a Magnificent Century on Day One

Playing his first Test after the suspension, Smith showed why he is considered the best of his generation. With calm and grit, he scored a brilliant century and rescued Australia from deep trouble. His knock turned the game around and reminded everyone of his greatness. Let’s look at how the entire first day of Ashes 2019 unfolded.

Australia vs England: 1st Test Match on 1st August 2019

When the first ball zipped down the pitch at Edgbaston on August 1, 2019, the Ashes series between England and Australia kicked off with a bang. The Birmingham crowd was pumped, ready for a fight between two cricket giants. Australia won the toss and chose to bat, hoping their batsmen could take control on a pitch that looked pretty good but had a bit of life for the bowlers. What happened next was pure drama as Australia’s top order fell apart, England’s bowlers were on fire, and Steven Smith, like a guy carrying his team on his back, played a century that saved the day.

Australia’s Shaky Start

Australia’s call to bat first looked like a bad move right away. England’s bowlers, led by Stuart Broad, came out swinging. The ball was moving, the crowd was loud, and Australia’s batsmen were in trouble from the get-go. David Warner, one of their big hitters, lasted just 14 balls, scoring 2 runs before Broad got him leg-before-wicket in the fourth over. The early wicket got the fans roaring, and Australia were already feeling the heat.

Cameron Bancroft, back in Test cricket after a rough year, tried to hang in there. He faced 25 balls but only got 8 runs before edging Broad to Joe Root at slip. By the seventh over, Australia were 17 for 2, and things were looking grim. Usman Khawaja, usually cool under pressure, couldn’t get going. He managed 13 runs off 23 balls before nicking one from Chris Woakes to Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps. At 35 for 3 after 14.2 overs, Australia were in a mess, and England’s bowlers were running the show.

The middle order didn’t do much better. Travis Head fought back, cracking five boundaries for his 35 runs off 61 balls, but Woakes trapped him lbw in the 32nd over. Matthew Wade, supposed to steady things, lasted five balls for 1 run before Woakes got him lbw too. At 105 for 5, Australia were sinking fast. It got worse when captain Tim Paine edged Broad to Rory Burns for 5 runs, and James Pattinson was out for a duck after just two balls, thanks to Broad again. By the 40th over, Australia were 112 for 7. When Pat Cummins got out lbw to Ben Stokes for 5, they were 122 for 8 after 44 overs. The crowd could sense a collapse, and England was in charge.

Steven Smith Steps Up

Then Steven Smith walked in. He came to the crease at 17 for 2, with the crowd booing him over the ball-tampering stuff from 2018. But Smith didn’t care. From his first ball, he was locked in, watching every delivery, moving his feet, and picking his moments to score. While his teammates struggled, Smith looked like he was playing a different game, calm and in control. Smith’s batting was pure class. His weird stance and little fidgets threw England’s bowlers off, but his focus was unreal. He left the risky balls alone, smashed the bad ones, and kept the runs coming.

When Peter Siddle joined him at 122 for 8, Australia were in big trouble, but Smith saw a way out. Siddle, a bowler not known for batting, played out of his skin, scratching out 44 runs off 85 balls with four boundaries. Together, they put on 88 runs for the ninth wicket, a stand that turned the whole day around. Siddle’s stubbornness let Smith take over. He mixed careful blocks with sharp drives, finding gaps and keeping England’s bowlers guessing.

The boos faded as Smith reached his century, a huge moment that got the Australian fans cheering. When Siddle fell to Moeen Ali in the 67th over, Nathan Lyon came in, and Smith kept pushing. He finished not out on 144 off 219 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes, dragging Australia to 284 all out in 80.4 overs. Smith’s knock was more than half their runs, a one-man rescue job that kept Australia alive.

Smith’s 144 wasn’t just a score, as it was a game-changer. After a year out of Test cricket because of the ball-tampering scandal, he faced a tough crowd and a ton of pressure. The boos were loud when he walked out, but he answered with his bat. His 24th Test century showed he was still one of the best, saving Australia from a disaster at 122 for 8. Batting with Siddle and Lyon showed his smarts and heart, keeping his team in the fight.

That century did more than boost Australia’s total. It gave their bowlers something to work with, putting England under pressure to bat well. It also set the tone for the Ashes, showing Smith was back and ready to lead. Fans started talking about Don Bradman, whose epic Ashes knocks are legendary. Smith’s innings were about proving he could handle the noise and deliver when it counted.

England’s bowlers owned most of the day. Stuart Broad was the leader, bowling with speed and swing to grab 5 wickets for 86 runs in 22.4 overs. He got Warner, Bancroft, Paine, Pattinson, and Smith, using the pitch perfectly to make life hard for Australia. His energy got the crowd going, and he looked like he could bowl forever. Chris Woakes was just as good, taking 3 wickets for 58 runs in 21 overs. His ability to swing the ball both ways got Khawaja, Head, and Wade, breaking Australia’s middle order. Ben Stokes chipped in with Cummins’ wicket, and Moeen Ali’s spin took out Siddle. James Anderson, England’s star bowler, was a problem as he bowled just four overs because of a calf injury and didn’t get a wicket, which hurt England’s attack.

England’s plan was straightforward as to bowl tight, hit the right spots, and let the pitch help. It worked like a charm for most of the day. They had Australia at 122 for 8, and a low score looked likely. But Smith’s fight, especially with Siddle, threw them off. England’s fielders missed a few catches, and their bowlers got tired late. Still, they knew they’d made Australia work hard for every run.

When stumps were called, Australia’s 284 all out felt like a victory, all thanks to Smith. England faced two overs in reply, getting to 10 for 0 with Rory Burns and Jason Roy at the crease. The day was a classic Ashes battle as Australia’s early collapse, Smith’s incredible fightback, and England’s tough bowling made it one to remember. Smith had stolen the spotlight, but England had a chance to hit back with the bat on Day 2. For Australia, Day 1 showed their grit, with Smith leading the charge. For England, it was a day of missed opportunities as they dominated early but let Smith turn it around. The Ashes had started with a bang, and Edgbaston was ready for more.