Ashes 2019 | Proud that I’ve been able to perform, but I want to get better, says Steve Smith

Ever since its inauguration during the 2005 edition of the Ashes series, the Compton-Miller medal is presented to the best player from both sides. This, of course, is a separate award from the two Player of the Series awards chosen from either side – Ben Stokes for England and Smith for Australia. As for the Compton-Miller Medal, Smith becomes the first player to win it on two separate occasions. His numbers against England in Tests recently have been insanely good: 774 runs at an average of 110.57 to follow up the 687 runs at 137.4 in the last Ashes series. The collective gasp of surprise from the Day four crowd in South London when he was dismissed for a non-fifty score wasn’t an exaggeration – it was his first in 11 innings!

“It has been an amazing couple of months here in England. The cricket has been fantastic. Really proud that I have been able to perform. You always want to get better as a player. You need to keep working hard and continue doing what helps your team win games,” Smith said at the post-match presentation, reported Cricbuzz.

Australia picked up the two English wickets that remained in quick time early on Day four and was set a mammoth target of 399 to clinch the series 3-1. Once again, Stuart Broad ripped through the openers before Jack Leach drew Marnus Labuschagne out of his crease long enough for Jonny Bairstow to whip the bails off. And once Smith himself was caught at leg-gully off Broad, it was only a matter of formalities. Or so, everyone except Matthew Wade thought. 

“You have always got to believe. The middle of the wicket really played well. Wade showed that if you hang in there you could score. But not enough people hung in there with him,” Smith said.

Wade’s excellent 117 – his second century of the series – meant that Australia’s defeat looked respectable at the very least. En route his entertaining ton, Wade was involved in a fierce battle against Jofra Archer. The Englishman has proved a nasty customer to more than one Aussie batsman on this tour – Smith included – but much like Smith and Labuschagne, Wade seemed to get the better of Archer yesterday. Smith, who captains Archer in the IPL, knows all too well that the pacer will have a bright future. 

“I saw Jofra last year at the IPL and realized he is a very special talent. He has got a very bright future,” Smith added.