Steven Smith was rightly named Player of the Match after producing a defining first-innings century that set the tone for Australia’s crushing victory in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide. His composed 118 was not just a personal milestone, but the innings that broke England’s resistance and effectively decided the match long before the final day unfolded.
Coming in with Australia needing consolidation, Smith did what he has done repeatedly in Ashes cricket — absorbed pressure, assessed conditions faster than anyone else, and then steadily took the game away from England. Adelaide offered assistance early, with movement for the seamers and variable bounce, but Smith’s technique and patience stood out immediately. He left well outside off stump, trusted his defense, and punished anything overpitched or drifting onto his pads.
What made the century so significant was its context. Australia were already ahead in the series, but England desperately needed early wickets to stay alive in the contest. Smith denied them that opening. By batting deep into the innings, he ensured Australia not only built a commanding total but also dictated the tempo of the Test. England’s bowlers were forced into long spells, and their intensity dipped as Smith’s innings wore on.
Smith’s knock was a reminder of his unique value in Test cricket. While others around him scored useful runs, it was Smith who provided certainty. He rotated the strike intelligently, kept the scoreboard moving without taking reckless risks, and gradually expanded his range once set. By the time he crossed three figures, Australia were firmly in control, and England looked mentally drained.
The innings also underlined why Smith remains England’s biggest Ashes problem. Even when he isn’t scoring at breakneck pace, his ability to occupy the crease neutralizes bowling plans. England tried different lengths, altered fields, and rotated bowlers — nothing worked. Smith’s calm presence blunted their aggression and exposed the lack of penetration once early movement faded.
Beyond the runs themselves, Smith’s leadership with the bat was critical. Australia avoided the collapses that have haunted England throughout the series. His partnership-building ensured that wickets at the other end did not trigger panic. That stability allowed Australia to post a total that put the match firmly beyond England’s reach.
As the Test progressed, the value of Smith’s century became even clearer. England were always chasing the game, batting under scoreboard pressure in both innings. With the pitch deteriorating and Australia’s bowlers exploiting conditions expertly, the visitors never truly threatened to overhaul the deficit Smith helped create.
Being named Player of the Match was a formality. Smith’s 118 was the innings that shaped the contest, forced England into survival mode, and paved the way for Australia’s emphatic 142-run win. In a series already slipping away from England, Smith once again stood as the immovable obstacle.
With Australia now holding a commanding series lead, Smith’s Adelaide performance will be remembered as the moment the Ashes effectively slipped beyond England’s grasp. It was not flashy, not reckless — just ruthless Test batting at its finest, delivered by a player who continues to define Ashes cricket in his own era.
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