Smith saves the day, rejects retirement call
A defiant Steve Smith has declared he is not on the verge of retirement after batting Australia out of a hole and to a slender 12-run first-innings lead on day two of the fifth Ashes Test.
With both his form and future questioned ahead of the match, Smith hit 71 at The Oval on Friday to help Australia to 295 in reply to England’s 283.
Australia’s Steve Smith in action. Reuters
Pat Cummins (36) and Todd Murphy (34) were also crucial late for the tourists, putting on 49 for the ninth wicket after a frustrating day of missed opportunities.
Keen to wear down England’s attack and build a big first-innings lead, Australia fell from 1-91 midway through the morning to 7-194.
But, as has so often been the case, Smith was able hold the innings together.
The 34-year-old then offered further relief when he confirmed retirement was not on the cards, despite claims from former England captain Michael Vaughan that he’d heard this could be Smith’s last Test.
Steve Smith: “I’m not retiring.” Reuters
“I’m not retiring,” Smith said. “I have no idea (where it’s come from), because I haven’t said it to anyone. I am not going anywhere yet.”
Smith’s comments come after David Warner also rejected similar claims about him from Vaughan before the Test, labelling them a joke.
In a tour that included a century against India in the World Test Championship final last month and another at Lord’s against England, Smith had failed to reach 50 in all other innings before Friday.
But he looked fluent from his early runs on Friday, driving James Anderson for back-to-back boundaries and bringing up 50 with another powerful shot down the ground.
“I felt pretty good,” Smith said. “Today is the best I have batted maybe outside of the Test Championship.
“I
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