On Monday (December 2), Tim Paine-led Australia defeated Pakistan by an innings and 48 runs to win the Adelaide Test with a day to spare and whitewash the series by 2-0. While Pakistan had nothing which clicked for them in the entire tour Down Under, let alone only the Test series, the Azhar Ali-led side could be satisfied with the fact that they didn’t allow Mr. Dependable and No. 1 batsman in Tests, Steve Smith to get going in the two Tests. The right-hander failed to register a single fifty-plus score (first-such instance for him) as 36 remained his highest in the series.
Prior to this, Smith had a fifty-plus score in all the series he took part ever since his debut in the longest format, versus Pakistan. However, his envious record finally came to an end with scores of 4 and 36 in the two outings against Azhar & Co.
Smith (a solitary fifty-plus score in 21 Test series since debut) was on course to break the record of former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who has at least one 50-plus score in 23 consecutive Test series from his debut. However, the 30-year-old failed to get past the former cricketer and would be gutted with his own performances.
Smith will now turn his focus towards the three-match Test series between Australia and New Zealand Down Under, starting from December 12.
