Pat Cummins strikes late but New Zealand claw back ascendancy in seesawing second Test
Marnus Labuschagne scored 90 and Kiwi quick Matt Henry took 7-67 as New Zealand fought back to finish day two on 134-2 and leading Australia by 40 runs
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Steve Smith and the unbridled joy of taking catches in Test cricket
The Australian now has claim to being one of the greatest in the game and shows the euphoria a catch safely taken can ignite
Sportblog
Young gun Cameron Green and old hand Nathan Lyon shine outside the spotlight
If youngsters like Green fulfilling their potential inspires old players like Lyon to keep exploring theirs, Australia have a winning combination
January 2024
Usman Khawaja bloodied by bouncer as Australia crush West Indies in first Test
Australia won the first Test by 10 wickets after Josh Hazlewood took nine wickets but not before Usman Khawaja was felled by bouncer one run short of victory
Steve Smith falls short as opener with Australia in control against West Indies on day one
After bowling the West Indies out for 188, Australia are 2-59 at stumps on day one of the first Test in Adelaide
Steve Smith re-energised to open batting for Australia, Pat Cummins says
Sportblog
More logic than conspiracy in Cameron Bancroft’s Test squad omission
Australia name Steve Smith as opener for Adelaide Test over specialist
December 2023
Cummins and Marsh lead fightback as Pakistan rue dropped catches in Boxing Day Test
Sportblog
Humility and heart: how Nathan Lyon became the quietly turning key to Australia’s success
‘Just score runs’: Steve Smith on returning to form and sidestepping retirement
Pat Cummins and Steve Smith raise concerns over Test cricket and T20 franchise clashes
July 2023
Sportblog
Steve Smith endures a day when his hands make their own decisions
Bizarro version of the Australia batter is contradictory to the rest but emerges often enough to be part of the whole
Any spirit of goodness in cricket should recognise two opposing worldviews
Geoff Lemon
Australia is a harder school where the batter is fair game – that culture does not deserve abuse, derision, or the label of cheat
Steve Smith shrugs off England crowd’s cheat claims during second Ashes Test
The Barmy Army’s longstanding default of labelling Australia as cheats, even before the Jonny Bairstow saga, does not faze their principal target
June 2023
Lord’s may never see another Steve Smith, solving the giant sudoku of Test cricket
One of the batting greats showed his class again for Australia at the home of cricket with a hundred full of balance and defiance
Steve Smith leads Australia charge but late Joe Root wickets give England hope
England won the toss but failed to capitalise in murky conditions as Australia batted superbly to finish day one of the second Test on 339 for five
Steve Smith warns England he is on the rise and will adapt to ‘funky’ Bazball
Sportblog
Beware, England: Steve Smith looks like a batting immortal again
‘Big shoes to fill’: Steve Smith reflects on Jack Leach missing the Ashes
