Smith survived a deadly bouncer from Archer which forced him to retire hurt, but he came back and helped Australia not lose sight of England's first innings score of 258.

Steve Smith had to leave the field after he was hit by a bouncer from Jofra Archer during the second Ashes Test, and Australia's coach Justin Langer has now revealed what Smith said in the dressing room.

After receiving medical treatment, Smith was back on his feet but left the field for further assessment, to applause by spectators at the home of cricket.

Steve Smith took charge in the second Test match after Australia's batting collapse again, and the fans couldn't help but notice his unique technique while leaving the deliveries.

Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh went a step further and said that Steve Smith has the ability to read the opposition and their tactics and that helps him in trying situations.

Heaping praise on the Indian captain, Gatting said he deserved the tag of a great player following his consistency in all the three formats of the game.

The debate has once again sprung up after Smith slammed twin centuries to help Australia beat England in the 1st Test and on seeing the knocks, coach Langer has his say on the best batsman at the moment.

Steve Smith scored twin centuries and was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award as Australia beat England by 251 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

"Running out of things to say about him, probably the best Test match performance we've seen," said Paine in the post-match presentation ceremony. 

Returning to Test cricket after serving a year-long ban for the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Smith struck 144 runs in the first innings to bail out Australia from a difficult position.

Australian batsman Steve Smith made a remarkable comeback to the longest format of the game, as he hit centuries in both the innings of the first Ashes Test.

Steve Smith has overtaken Virat Kohli to become the second-fastest batsman to score 25 Tests tons and has also joined an exclusive list of players to score twin centuries in a Test match.

Ponting's comments came in after Smith was seen offering advice to bowlers and discussing with Paine on numerous occasions during the first Ashes Test match. 

Steve Smith and Travis Head put up 49 for the fourth wicket before bad light called for early stumps on Day 3.

Smith's grinding knock of 144 off 219 balls pulled Australia out of trouble to a respectable 284 after being eight down for 122 on the opening day of the first Ashes Test against England in Edgbaston on Thursday.

Steve Smith returned to Test cricket after 15 months with a century in the Ashes opener against England at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Steve Smith returned to action recently after serving a one year ban due to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Steve Smith scored 144 off 219 balls at Birmingham on his return to Test cricket after 15 months but his fluency forces one to ask... did he ever leave?

Steve Smith reached his 24th Test ton in just 65 matches and it was just the 118th innings he was playing in red-ball cricket.

Former captain Smith earned his first Test ton — and 24th Test century overall in only 65 games — after a 12-month suspension for being involved in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.