Sachin Tendulkar Hails Steve Smith For Dream Comeback To Tests

Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was all praise for Steve Smith after the latter made a dream comeback to Test cricket. Playing his first Test after serving the one-year ban for the sandpaper gate last year, Smith starred with the bat as Australia crushed England in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Australia thrashed England by 251 runs to take the lead in the five-match series.

In the first innings of the match, Smith scored 144. It was a remarkable knock given the way he was having little support from the other end. At one stage, Australia were reeling at 122 for 8. Even 150 was looking like a distant dream for Australia. However, Smith forged handy partnerships with Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon to propel Australia to 284.

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In reply, England took a handy 90-run lead in the first innings. Australia then found themselves in further trouble after losing both their openers cheaply. But before England could make further inroads in the game, Smith once again bailed Australia out of trouble. He scored 142 and was well supported by Matthew Wade who scored a ton too as Australia scored 487 for 7 (declared).

In reply, England were all out for just 146. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon starred with the ball, picking up six wickets while pacer Pat Cummins picked up the remaining four wickets. After the game, Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to lavish praise on Smith as well as Lyon, writing:

“Well played Smith. What a way to make a comeback to Test cricket. Terrific bowling by @NathLyon421. Congratulations to Australia for winning the first Test match. “

Well played Smith. What a way to make a comeback to Test cricket.
Terrific bowling by @NathLyon421.
Congratulations to Australia for winning the first Test match.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/qH0aMLvQAN

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 5, 2019

Smith, meanwhile, became only the fifth Australian to score centuries in both the innings of an Ashes Test. He has now scored ten Ashes centuries and is only behind the legendary Don Bradman.