4 bowlers who got Steve Smith out for a duck in Tests

Regarded as one of the modern-day greats, Steve Smith has been in the headlines every day since the start of the Ashes in England. The Australian talisman's return to Test cricket has been nothing short of a dream.

Joining the side after a one-year ban, Smith has already made up the lost time. With 751 runs in 6 innings at a mind-boggling average of 125.16, Smith has broken a whole heap of records in this series.

Despite playing just six Test innings in the year, Smith is the highest run-scorer of 2019. He has also reclaimed the ICC No. 1 ranking in Tests, dethroning Virat Kohli.

From being considered part of the Fab-4 group of great modern batsmen (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root), Smith has now stepped into a league of his own in Test cricket.

Smith's unorthodox batting style has been his strength in the longer format

Though his batting style looks unorthodox, it has reaped rich rewards and has made him the most effective batsman in the longer format. Smith has proved with a series of monumental knocks that technique is not everything at this level.

Considering the kind of red-hot form he is in right now, it looks like he will notch up a century every time he steps out on the field. But he hasn't always done that; on quite a few occasions in the past, bowlers have got him out cheaply.

Here is a look at four bowlers who were lucky enough get Smith out for a duck in Tests:

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#4 Keshav Maharaj, South Africa

Steve Smith’s last nought came way back in 2016, when South Africa toured Australia for a 3-match Test series.

In the first Test at Perth, after restricting South Africa to 242 in their first innings, the Aussies had the upper hand as David Warner and Shaun Marsh put up a 158-run partnership for the opening wicket.

Keshav Maharaj would be proud of bagging Steve Smith as his maiden test-wicket

Smith was keen to capitalize on the start given by his openers, but Keshav Maharaj had other ideas. The debutant trapped the Aussie captain in front of the stumps with an arm-ball, thereby bagging his maiden wicket in Tests.

It was an eyebrow-raising decision by umpire Aleem Dar as Smith was more than 2.5 meters down the pitch. But even DRS couldn’t save the Aussie captain as it turned out to be umpire’s call with regard to impact and spot on with hitting the stumps.

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

#3 Zulfiqar Babar, Pakistan

Smith’s lean patch in Asian conditions continued during the two-match Test series against Pakistan in 2014. Playing in UAE for the first time, Smith struggled to adapt to the dusty conditions on offer during the tour.

In the second test, the Australian team looked in dire straits as they trailed Pakistan by 570 runs in the first innings, courtesy Younis Khan’s scintillating double century.

Smith missed an arm-ball on the back foot, getting trapped LBW

At 97-4, Smith along with his captain Michael Clarke had the daunting task of bailing their team out of a follow-on possibility. Unfortunately for Smith, he succumbed under the pressure to Zulfiqar Babar’s excellent spell of spin bowling and got out for a duck.

Putting aside the setback, Smith came up with a resilient knock of 97 off 204 deliveries in the second innings. But he couldn’t save his team from a 2-0 whitewash as Australia lost by 356 runs.

#2 Dale Steyn, South Africa

Riding high on their Ashes success, a 5-0 whitewash over England, the Aussies landed in the rainbow nation for three-match Test series in 2014. But after winning the first test at Centurion through Mitchell Johnson’s fiery 12-wicket haul for the match, Australia’s dream run was brought to a halt at Port Elizabeth.

Facing a mammoth target of 448 runs, they seemed on course to chase down the total as David Warner got them off to a flying start, scoring a quick-fire 66 off 73 balls. But then Dale Steyn’s fierce spell happened.

Dale Steyn was at his brutal best, picking up 4 wickets to seal the victory

Steyn gave the Aussies a taste of their own medicine - nasty bouncers - and ran riot through the middle order. Though Smith was high on confidence with a 100 and a 49 already on the tour, he couldn’t handle the wrath of Steyn as he was out for a golden duck - for the first and only time in his career.

Australia eventually lost the match by 232 runs as no one other than the openers reached the double-digit mark.

#1 Chris Tremlett, England

Yes, you heard it right! Chris Tremlett, the sturdy Englishman, will be in the record books as the first bowler to get Steve Smith out for a duck in Test cricket. The now-mythical moment happened during the unforgettable 5-0 whitewash that Australia inflicted on England in 2013.

Chris Tremlett was lucky enough to get Smith out for a duck for the first time in his career.

Playing the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia were in the driving seat with a 159-run lead going into the second innings. After an ODI-like century from David Warner (124 off 154 balls), Smith came in to bat at 233-3 after 59 overs.

Looking to set a mammoth target before the declaration, the Australian batsmen were in a hurry and dealing in boundaries. New to the crease, Smith tried to match the ante but failed in his attempt as he edged one off Tremlett to the keeper, registering his first duck in Test cricket.