PERTH, (Reuters) – Australia’s Steve Smith scored a brilliant century to help wrest control of the third Ashes test back from a revitalised England on a sweltering opening day at the WACA on Thursday.
An hour into lunch yesterday Australia had reached 379-9, adding 53 runs to their overnight score for the loss of three wickets.
The hosts, who will recapture the urn with victory in Perth after winning the first two tests, looked in real trouble when the dismissal of George Bailey before tea reduced them to 143 for five on Thursday.
Smith and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, however, put on 124 for the sixth wicket with circumspect and, occasionally, aggressive innings that contrasted sharply with the cavalier efforts of their team mates and Australia reached the close on 326 for six.
They were separated when Haddin, who has scored half centuries in all four innings in the series, spooned the ball to James Anderson at midwicket off the bowling of Ben Stokes for 55 an hour before stumps.
Smith reached his second test century, however, and resumed last night on 103 not out with Mitchell Johnson, unbeaten on 39. Johnson fell to Stuart Broad without adding to his score while Smith was caught behind off James Anderson for 111.
“Yeah it was nice,” Smith told reporters. “Obviously under a bit of pressure there losing a few wickets in the middle but … hopefully we’re in a decent position.
England were left ruing a missed opportunity to take control of the test and bowling coach David Saker was disappointed his paceman had let Australia off the hook by not bowling a consistent length.
“No doubt we let it slip,” he said. “It’s probably not the first time this series as well we’ve had them on the ropes to a degree and we haven’t finished the job.”
After losing the toss for a third successive match and the chance to bat on what looked like an excellent surface, the tourists initially responded to their do-or-die situation with their sharpest display of the series to date.
Australia’s batsmen looked intent on piling on the runs as quickly as possible – they were scoring at five an over at one stage – but also contributed to their own demise with rash strokes.
