It’s safe to say Alastair Cook would not have much enjoyed his 100th Test. His men were 2-0 down heading to another belting in Perth. England fielded for days, Ryan Harris chainsawed his off-stump in half, Graeme Swann was hit out of a career, Shane Watson defied a famously difficult relationship with centuries. Temperatures throughout were around 44C.
In the coming week, Steve Smith will reach the same milestone in front of a crowd at least as unsympathetic, in a place as far from home. In a way it is appropriate for a career defined by one team. Another 13 runs and Smith will pass Viv Richards for runs visiting England, Garfield Sobers for runs against England, and Allan Border for Ashes runs. That would leave only Border and Don Bradman ahead of him on the first two counts, and Jack Hobbs with Bradman on the third.
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