Tendulkar praises Steve Smith for ‘terrific’ comeback in Tests

Steve Smith scored two centuries, 144 and 142, to become only the fifth Australian to make tons in both innings of an Ashes Test.

Australia batsman Steve Smith celebrates winning the first test with team-mates.

 

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar on Monday congratulated Australia for winning the first Ashes Test and heaped special praise on Steve Smith for making a remarkable comeback in the longer version of the game.

“Well played Smith. What a way to make a comeback to Test cricket. Terrific bowling by @NathLyon421. Congratulations to Australia for winning the first Test match,” Tendulkar tweeted after Australia thrashed England by 251 runs at Birmingham in the first Test of the five-match series.

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.

Smith carried on his form and scored another century, 142, in Australia’s second innings to become only the fifth Australian to make tons in both innings of an Ashes Test.