Cricket News: Steve Smith waged lone battle at Edgbaston

Steve Smith scored 144 on his return to test cricket after a ban for ball-tampering as Australia recovered from 122-8 to 284 all out against England on the opening day of the Ashes series. Smith and Peter Siddle came to the rescue of Australia's first innings with an 88-run partnership for the ninth wicket at Edgbaston, and Smith then shared 74 runs with Nathan Lyon for the last wicket in an extraordinary turnaround. Smith was finally bowled while trying to smash Stuart Broad. His 219-ball knock included two sixes and 16 fours. 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 during the third test against South Africa in 2018. He reached his century by hitting Ben Stokes to the boundary, triggering a mixture of boos and plenty of applause from the Birmingham crowd. From England Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers who took 5/86 in 22.4 overs. Chris Woakes scalped three wickets for 58. James Anderson could only bowl 4 overs before he suffered a calf injury. In reply to Australia’s total, England openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy confidently survived two overs in the evening session to reach stumps at 10-0 in the first test.