Ashes 2023: He’s been the best over the last few years – Michael Vaughan hails Steve Smith for brilliant century

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has heaped praise on Australian talisman Steve Smith after he scored a fine century in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Thursday. Smith scored a fine knock of 110 runs off 184 balls to help Australia post 416 runs on the board in the first innings.

The talisman scored 85 runs on the opening day of the second Test match after England skipper Ben Stokes decided to bowl first. Smith got off to a flying start as he raced to 24 runs off just 15 balls and he was able to hit the ground running.

The right-haner scored 15 fours in his fine knock and batted at the top of his game. Smith also added 118 runs with Travis Head as the latter scored 77 runs off just 73 balls.

This was the 32nd Test century for Smith and he once again showed his class against England in difficult conditions at the Lord’s. It was Smith’s 12th Ashes century and his eighth in the English conditions.

Smith also became the second fastest batter to 9,000 Test runs behind former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

Speaking to Cricbuzz at stumps on Day 2, Vaughan said: “In Test match cricket, he’s been the best over the last few years consistently because he’s played different styles of innings. He got 100s in 2019 when the ball was moving around all over the place. We know how good a player he is against the Kookaburra in his own backyard.”

Vaughan hailed Smith for starting the second day in a confident manner and said he looked all set to get to his century.

“I saw it yesterday as soon as he came out, the first three balls you saw the middle of the bat. He whipped one in the onside then played a cover drive and I was like ‘yeah he is getting a 100’,” added Vaughan.

Vaughan continued to shower praise on Smith and lauded the right-hander for bringing his best in big matches and also at iconic venues.

“Great players, they love the attention, the environment, the occasion, the atmosphere at special venues. No more special than the one here at Lord’s. As soon as he walks out at the MCG you always think he’ll get a hundred. It’s just that ability that great players have, they just know how to sense and play the big occasions,” said Vaughan.

Meanwhile, England finished Day 2 on 278-4 and they trail by 138 runs after Ben Duckett top-scored with 98 runs.