ASHES Stumps Day Four: Smith, Wade centuries break England's spirit

Steve Smith again showed why he is considered by many as the greatest test batsman since Bradman with another century overnight.

Australia will look to bowl its way to a decisive victory on the final day of the opening Ashes Test after building an enormous 397-run lead over England on day four at Edgbaston.

Another masterclass by Steve Smith (142) was paired with a century for fellow returning batsman Matthew Wade (110), guiding Australia to a declaration on 7-487, effectively batting England out of the game.

Smith's ton was his 25th and made him the fifth player — and the first since Matthew Hayden to in Brisbane in 2002 — to score hundreds in each innings of an Ashes Test, while Wade's ton was his first in more than six years.

Both were made all the more special by the fact that they could well have set up an Ashes victory.

"I have never doubted my ability," said Smith, who spent 16 months out of the Test arena for his part in the ball-tampering scandal.

"To score two hundreds in a match in a first Ashes Test is incredible.

"I have never done it any form of cricket. It is special. I've loved these last four days, it's felt like Christmas morning every morning, it has been a dream comeback."

Smith, who follows Warren Bardsley, Arthur Morris, Steve Waugh and Hayden into the record books, passed 50 for the sixth successive time against England.

The 30-year-old moved level with Steve Waugh on 10 Ashes tons, but from just over half the number of Tests and innings.

"When he goes out to bat it's almost like he's in a trance-like state," Waugh said.

"He knows exactly what he's trying to do, exactly what the opposition are trying to do and he analyses every ball — it's like a computer, he spits out the answer."

No team has ever chased down more than 283 in the fourth innings to win in Birmingham, but captain Tim Paine must have wanted to break the spirits of England's tiring bowlers, waiting until the light was fading and the lead was approaching 400 to put them out of their misery with a declaration.

The late declaration gave England openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy seven awkward overs to face, which they managed to negotiate successfully, ending the day on 0-13.

Having resumed day four with the match perfectly poised, Australia set about making a statement in the first hour.

With Smith and Travis Head at the crease, the Aussies did more than just survive. The pair batted with intent, scoring quickly and making England resort to defence rather than attacking for more wickets.

Smith swiftly brought up his half-century, and Head was not far behind. The first hour passed without incident, and a wicketless session loomed as a distinct possibility.

That was until Head (51) played one cut shot too many, at a Ben Stokes (3-85) delivery a little too close to his body, and edged through to keeper Jonny Bairstow. His slow walk from the field was one of a man who knew he had let an opportunity slip.

But the wicket did not slow Smith who, now joined by Wade, continued to score freely and closed in on a century before lunch.

He was made to wait, but not long. With a stacked off-side field, Smith somehow found the tiniest of gaps with a blazing cover drive, reaching his historic milestone with yet another boundary.

Celebrations out of the way, Smith and Wade carried right on punishing England, stretching the lead beyond 200 and then 250.

England looked almost completely out of ideas, until the introduction of the second new ball and some extra swing for Chris Woakes (1-46) brought about an outside edge from Smith, and another catch for Bairstow.

Once the shock had subsided around the ground at Smith's departure, normal service resumed. After tea, the focus switched to Wade's pursuit of a century — an outcome that all of a sudden seemed an inevitability.

Wade reached three figures with a reverse sweep, followed by a joyous hug with fellow Tasmanian and childhood friend Paine.

With that out of the way, the pursuit of quick runs with an eye on a declaration was the order of the day. Wade and Paine pushed the lead past 300, before the former was caught on the hook by Joe Denly from a Stokes short ball.

Paine fell too, clean bowled through the gate by an absolute ripper from Moeen Ali (2-130). It was a rare moment of joy for the off-spinner, who struggled on the whole.

Despite Australia already leading by 319 when the captain went off, James Pattinson (47 not out) and Pat Cummins (26 not out) batted on for another hour.

Only the final stages of their 78-run partnership showed evidence of a licence to swing for the fences, as the innings headed towards the final half-hour of the day.

A chase of 398 would be the fifth-highest successful chase in Test history, and require a rapid scoring rate, meaning an Australian win or a draw are the only realistic results.

THE STAR

Steve Smith hits out during yet another century in Test cricket.

Another day, another Steve Smith century. He, alongside Matthew Wade, ensured England will not go into the second test with a lead in the series, as they both crunched centuries to drive the English bowlers into the ground. Smith's century was his second in this test, and became only the fifth batsman to do so in an Ashes test. Smith's redemption is all but complete, the Barmy Army could not even boo this time around as they stood and applauded the greatness we had just witnessed.

THE MOMENT

Matt Wade pulls during his innings of 110.

After becoming too prolific for the selectors to ignore, Matt Wade would vindicate the selectors faith in the second innings are a first innings failure. He would need the reprieve of DRS to overturn an LBW decision by umpire Joel Wilson, when only on 69, to continue his innings towards triple figures. It was a bad call from Wilson, reviewed immediately due to the height of the impact by Wade, the ball was adjudged to sail well over the stumps. It was a crucial moment in Wade's own story in this game, who was brilliant apart from a few nervy moments against the part time leg spin of Joe Denly. Wade is back and looked a complete test batsman.

THE FAILURE

Bairstow's frustration was clear for all to see after a horror day with the gloves.

Jonny Bairstow's wicket-keeping left alot to be desired on day four. Although the conditions were not perfect for keeping, his technical flaws were highlighted with no less than three missed stumping chances. With Jos Buttler already in the side, and Bairstow's form with both bat and gloves faltering, perhaps we will see a chance for the second test.

THE STAT -

Steve Smith's 10th Ashes century from just 43 innings has him equal now with Steve Waugh (who completed the feat in 72 innings), and sits behind only Don Bradman (19 from 63) and Jack Hobbs (12 from 71). There is a genuine possibility that Smith could join, or even pass Hobbs in this series if he can maintain this insane kind of form.

Photo of the Day

Joe Root walks away from his team mates as he contemplates how it all went wrong on Day Four.

After a difficult day, Joe Root walks away to contemplate how England let Australia slip from 122 for 8 on day one to have a lead of all but 400 on Day Four. Fractures within the England camp are clear for all to see in this shot.