How do you get Steve Smith out? Chris Woakes finally answers the question

Smith has tormented England for 10 innings in a row.

Published Sep 13, 2019

Steve Smith has continued his remarkable run of scores against England in the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at a fine sequence stretching back to the start of the 2017-18 Ashes series.

2017-18

First Test, Brisbane (141)

Smith leaving the field at the GABBA (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Second Test, Adelaide (40 & 6)

A relative failure on this occasion but Australia still won by 120 runs.

Third Test, Perth (239)

Smith had the Ashes won by the time the series went to Perth (Jason O’Brien/PA)

Fourth Test, Melbourne (76 & 102no)

A double century from Alastair Cook put England in control but Smith’s second-innings ton ensured Australia secured a draw.

Fifth Test, Sydney (83)

Fell short of a fourth hundred in the series but Australia still won by a commanding innings and 23 runs.

2019

First Test, Edgbaston (144 & 142)

Second Test, Lord’s (92)

Again resisted England until being struck on the neck by a bouncer from Jofra Archer, who had earlier hit him on the arm, and was forced to retire hurt. He later returned and hit three more boundaries but he missed the rest of the match – and the third Test at Headingley – after suffering delayed concussion.

Fourth Test, Old Trafford (211 & 82)

England tried every way to remove him at Old Trafford (Mike Egerton/PA)

Fifth Test, The Oval (80)

There were few surprised when Smith reached a fifth successive 50 against England, but the question soon moved to ‘how do you get him out?’ Sam Curran thought he knew, only for Joe Root to drop him in the slips, before Chris Woakes answered, trapping him leg-before.