Steve Smith smiles in the field after turning the
match on its head (Reuters)There was nothing more lovely, as Wade reached three figures himself, him being lifted off the ground by
Tim Paine. Despite playing backyard Test Matches together growing up in Lauderdale, a suburb of Hobart,
this was the first time the oldest friends had represented their country together after two long and complex
international journeys. They advanced the score beyond 400 before the century-maker – on 110 from just
143 balls – holed out. Now the lead was impregnable – 317. Party time with James Pattinson, who cleared
the rope four times before the declaration – made it 397. England had coughed up 363 runs in 81 overs.
Remember, this was the side who were 122/8 on day one, trailed by 90 on the first innings and lost both
openers in the second dig before getting out of first gear – well in the red. But because of Smith and his
middle-order colleagues, had batted the hosts out of the game. A Test that spent three days twisting now
has only two viable results left. It was some 18 years ago to the day that Australia retained the Ashes in 2001
- the last time they won a series in this country. Tomorrow, with Nathan Lyon at the ready, they will surely
go one-up. If and when they do, make no mistake, it will go down as one of their most famous victories.