Steve Smith sent England an early warning with a brilliant century ahead of the Ashes. The Australian star returned to Sheffield Shield cricket in style, scoring 118 off 176 balls for New South Wales against Queensland at the Gabba. His innings, replete with 20 boundaries and a six, showed the kind of form that made him one of the greatest hitters of his generation. Smith’s knock helped New South Wales reach 349 for 5 at stumps on day two, and it’s another reminder that the 35-year-old still has plenty left in the tank. The right-hander has already accumulated 10,477 runs in 119 Tests at an average of 56.02, with 36 centuries and 43 fifties. In Ashes competitions, he is third in the all-time rankings with 3,417 runs in 37 matches, only behind Don Bradman and Jack Hobbs.Smith will lead Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins at the start of the Ashes. As captain, he averaged an extraordinary 112.28 in Ashes Tests, highlighting how he flourished under responsibility. His tactical acuity and composure will be key assets for Australia as they aim to retain the home urn. His century came just days after his former teammate David Warner predicted Smith would be England’s biggest threat this summer. Speaking on Fox Cricket, Warner said: “If this man can score big runs this summer, he will be fine. If he gets going, it will be a challenge for England. I think he has five centuries in him. He only had one session at the net the other day and came out and scored a hundred; that’s Steve Smith.” Warner added that Smith could finish as Australia’s second best hitter, only behind Bradman. “He knows his body now, he knows what he’s capable of. The only thing he is missing is winning in India, and if he wants to achieve that, he will,” he said. Former India coach Ravi Shastri also praised Smith’s leadership and adaptability as he prepares to captain Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins. “What has always amazed me about Steve is his ability to adapt to different conditions and improvise, even in the middle of an innings. The captaincy will bring the best out of him, that’s for sure,” Shastri said. With the first Ashes Test set to begin in Perth on November 21, Smith looks fully fit again. His dominance with the bat and ability to rise to the big stage makes him Australia’s biggest weapon heading into the summer.
