Top 5 Ashes batting performances of the last decade

Steve Smith – 215, Lord's 2015

England has become a tough country for Australia to play in, as they haven’t won the Ashes there for 12 years now. 2015 seemed to be following a similar direction as England won the first match comfortably in Cardiff.

Captain-in-waiting, Steve Smith, had different ideas as the teams headed to Lord's for the second game. Building a gargantuan stand with Chris Rogers, Smith kept collecting runs at a refreshing pace, even as Rogers made his way back to the pavilion. He speeded his way to a pompous double century.

Rendering the English pace attack toothless, Smith spearheaded Australia to an imposing total of 566, enough to lead them to a comfortable win. It was a statement of intent from Australia’s best batsman that he was ready to lead from the front, which did happen soon enough as Clarke retired at the end of the series.