Ashes 2019: Twitter salutes Steve Smith for scintillating 100

Australian batsman Steve Smith on Thursday scored a tremendous hundred in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. The swashbuckler stood up for Aussies amid an early collapse. He kept his head calm, helping his team go past a fighting first innings total. 

Playing his first Test match post the ban, Smith made sure to make a mark straightaway. He walked into bat when Australia was 3 down on 35 runs. Wickets kept falling from the other end, however, the right-handed batsman stood tall from the other end. 

Here is how Twitter reacted after Smith reached the 100-run mark:

What this century must mean to Steve Smith! What a brilliant player!
Take a bow.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/QoIpN5QU1Q

— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora) August 1, 2019

Hat tip to Steve Smith. Ball tampering episode was blot against his name. But he’s served his punishment and come back in extraordinary fashion. Perhaps his greatest Test century given the crisis Oz were in, and even more, the drama surrounding his return

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 1, 2019

Like him or loathe him, Steve Smith is pure class with the bat #ENGvAUS #Ashes

— Neil Cooke (@neilcooke_) August 1, 2019

Whatever you think of Steve Smith,,,,the context of this test hundred must be appreciated for its sheer skill, tenacity and single-mindedness. Must rank very high on his list of 24

— ian bishop (@irbishi) August 1, 2019

Say what you want about Steve Smith but he's up there on the greatest ever batsman lists! Incredible #TheAshes2019

— 6 times (@thejackal1981) August 1, 2019

What a comeback by the Maestro. Undoubtedly one of the best batsman to grace the modern game. #Ashes #SteveSmith #evenhandedexpressionist https://t.co/EOGCNLnZpE

— Saad Saleem (@evenhandedexp95) August 1, 2019

Who is going to be England's Steve Smith? Who's going to keep their head while* everyone is folding, and take the side from a dire situation to a dominant one, singlehandedly.

Incredible turnaround.

Smith is a genius and Test cricket is the best. Welcome back #Ashes #ENGvAUS

— Jack Mendel (@Mendelpol) August 1, 2019