Steve Smith and His Love For The Oval

Steve Smith was instrumental in deflating the Indian Team on Day one of the World Test Championship Finals. He continued his good work on a ground which has been a place of happy hunting for him as he added to his amazing record.

It was back in 2013 where Steve Smith opened his account, making his first Test Hundred at the Oval. The first of 31, and the first of a fair level of big scores at the Oval alone. Coming into the series back then, for the 2013 Ashes, Steve Smith was still in transition having started his career as a Leg-Spinner. His technique was still questionable but the hundred allowed him to begin a seamless transition in to a crucial middle-order batter for the Australian Team.

He was at it again in 2015, making 143 in the fifth Test of the Ashes. By then the series and the Ashes were gone, but it was still an important juncture in Smith’s career. Ahead of the Oval Test, Captain Michael Clarke announced his retirement from Test Cricket. With Steve Smith vice-captain it was imminent that the Test Captaincy was to fall on him, which it eventually did from the next Test on. He marked his last Test before captaincy with another strong performance.

In 2019, after making a comeback from his ban, Steve Smith was at it again. He was at his best in an Ashes which was instrumental to him given what he went through the previous year as he made a strong 80 to finish the series with a haul of 774 runs.

This year, Steve Smith came to the Oval for the ultimate Test in what could potentially be his Final Test Visit to England. His innings though was a little more uncharacteristic for some parts with Steve Smith starting slowly. Once Smith was set though he was unstoppable as he gave absolutely nothing, no half chance and no sniffs to the Indian bowling line-up. By the end of his innings, Steve Smith added to his run tally significantly at the Oval, and deflated the Indian bowling attack.

In the same process, he also sent out some strong warnings to the English Attack who would have watched his innings closely especially after the manner at which he tormented them last time in England. With a strong and solid performance to start his England Tour, The English bowlers will be sweating a touch as they hope to find a way past Steve Smith this time around to help them win their first Ashes since 2015.