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Bairstow hopeful of England repeating Headingley miracle despite Steve Smith heroics
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 9/6/2019 3:57:49 PM
Though he missed the Headingly Test after a concussion but Steve Smith returned to 4th Ashes Test in a rather destructive form and as world's best Test batsman to once again torment the English bowlers.
Smith showed extraordinary determination at Old Trafford on Thursday as he converted his overnight fifty into a double hundred to power Australia to 497 for 8 before the visitors decided to declare. It was Smith's third triple-digit score of the series from four innings, and his third double-century overall.
However, with Australia having a massive advantage and England having lost a wicket already before Stumps on Day 2, Jonny Bairstow remains to be hopeful to pull another Headingley like victory at Old Trafford.
After Ben Stokes's heroic hundred and 10th-wicket partnership of 76 with Jack Leach, England had the Ashes stolen from under the vistors' noses to keep the series alive.
"There are three innings and three days of cricket left," Jonny Bairstow said in a press conference at the end of Day 2.
"If we can go out and apply ourselves tomorrow, bat for a long period of time like we did at Headingley, there is no reason why not.
"Let's look at the next day, let's look at the next session and see where we get to. I don't think looking too far ahead, we've had two contrasting days with the weather, we'll see how the pitch changes over a period of time."
Smith is now also the first Australian since Allan Border in 1981-85 to score more than 500 runs in consecutive Ashes series and only the third player - after Don Bradman and Jack Hobbs - to post that number in three Ashes series.
Australia captain Tim Paine was dropped twice - on 9 and 49 - in his innings of 58, while Smith was given an unlikely reprieve after he nicked spinner Jack Leach to slip when on 118. Smith was on his way back to the pavilion, berating himself, only for replays to show that Leach had overstepped.