England: In the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds, England pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Australia. The hosts' victory by three wickets gave them a 1-2 series record in the ongoing five-match set. In his 100th Test, Steve Smith failed to make a difference in the game, and the Australians were unable to win the series.
Former Australia captain Mark Taylor criticized Smith and noted that his removal in the second innings was unlike him. Smith was eliminated in the second innings by Moeen Ali, who secured his 200th Test wicket. When Smith was faced with a full delivery on the middle stump, he attempted to elevate the ball but failed because it grabbed the bottom half of his bat and flew straight to short midwicket.
"Smith was disappointing in his 100th Test, scoring no real runs. His second innings dismissal was a shock to all of us because it was so un-Smith like, but caught well as he always does", said Taylor.
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"He got a couple of starts, but like all of the batsmen, needs to start turning these 30s and 40s into big scores. He knows that, and we all know Test match cricket is won by blokes making big hundreds, not 30s and 40s. He didn't have a bad game, but need more from the top three batters to get big totals", he further added.
Taylor also suggested that the visitors need David Warner to start firing after disappointing in the third Test. The Aussie opener was dismissed by Broad in both innings. "Australia need him to get us off to a start. He looked pretty sound in the first couple of games, particularly that 60-odd he made at Lord's, but he didn't look as good in this game with the bat, no doubt about that", he said.
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Despite Smith and Warner's and Australia's struggles at the plate, Mitchell Marsh's century in the first innings was a bright spot. Marsh scored 118 runs off 118 balls in the first innings, including 17 fours and 4 sixes.
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