February 2017, and experts across the world said Australia would be a walk in the park for Virat Kohli and his men. India at home looked invincible and an Australian team with no great slow-bowling pedigree wouldn’t be able to stand up to them. But against all odds, Australia did. Rather, Steve Smith did. A match-winning hundred in Pune, and all of a sudden, it was a very different series. Smith carried on, and so did Australia. He was leading from the front, and the positive energy rubbed off on Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Peter Handscomb and many others in the team. It was one of the most competitive series of recent times and Australia, despite the 1-2 loss, went home proud.
Smith, with that hundred, had proved why he was the best of our era. He had already scored many in Australia, but to do so in India, against a formidable Indian attack that had just helped decimate England 4-0, was something very different. Few have done so, and Smith stood out. On a rank turner, it was an innings of the highest class.
Since then, Smith has added to his reputation as a batter. Naturally, he was the man India needed to dismiss early if they are to win the World Test Championship (WTC). His was the prized wicket. But yet again, he delivered for his team. Kept the Indians at bay. Not flamboyant, but as Clive Lloyd always argues, Smith was prepared to look ugly. Many felt he was getting bogged down, and there would soon be a delivery that had his number. But there was a difference between being bogged down, and being resolute. Only towards the final stages of the day did Smith start to open his shoulders. With Travis Head for company, he put together a 251-run stand that placed Australia firmly in the driver’s seat on the opening day itself.
His previous scores at the Oval – 138*, 7, 143, 80 and 23 – show how dominant he has been across conditions. And now, another hundred could well be added to that already staggering record.
Was he nervous when he reached the 90s? I am sure he was. With Head motoring along, it was natural Smith may have felt pressure at times during his innings. More so with India throwing all at him with the second new cherry. He needs the 100 more than ever. He needs it to silence the crowd, all blue at the Oval, to transform the jibes to cheers, and be hailed as one of the best ever. His change-room is as keen as he is. and all of them will be out on the balcony on the second morning cheering for him.
All those at The Oval were on their feet applauding Head and Smith as they walked back, and for once, it was evident to one and all why sport is such a great leveller. Many thought that with the toss, it was all India. Cloudy and overcast, batting first was always going to be difficult. Everything was reversed by the end of the day.
India had the better of Smith in the last two series. R Ashwin, for example, had shown him bad days of a kind he may never have imagined. Here, Ashwin is warming the bench. Smith, however, remained true to the sport and knew he would surely get another opportunity. And it came on cricket’s greatest stage, the WTC final.
The Smith innings, painful as it was if you are an Indian fan, showed everything that is good about sport. It was about hope and motivation, about proving a point when it mattered the most. From a purely personal point of view, Smith has seized control back. He is best Test batter of his era, edging out Virat Kohli and Joe Root. He stands for grit and commitment, for a never-say-die attitude and, most importantly, perseverance. These are all qualities we need as mortals to survive. Smith, a man of flesh and blood, has them in abundance, and has made maximum use when needed.
As the sun beat down at 6pm local time, Smith walked back satisfied to the change-room. His journey, however, is far from complete. For him, and Australia, it will resume at 1030am on day 2, as they emerge to bat India out of the game.
Also Read: Travis Head Takes Full Toll of India’s Lack of Clarity