Brexit benefits may seem few and far between but one upshot, cricket-wise, has been the decision to allow a second overseas player in the County Championship. At New Road on Friday this meant a chance to watch two modern-day greats batting together and though one fell for a middling 30, the other peeled off a classical century.
Steve Smith was the former, his first outing with the bat for Sussex in this short pre-Ashes stint lasting 80 minutes before he was adjudged lbw to Worcestershire’s Josh Tongue. It looked to be a bail-trimmer at best, Smith struck above the knee roll by the right-armer. But without DRS at his disposal, Australia’s best-since-Bradman could only wrinkle his nose before clanking back up the metal steps of the Graeme Hick pavilion.
While delighted to see the back of Smith – and reduce Sussex to 128 for four in reply to their first innings 264 all out – the hosts still had the small matter of Cheteshwar Pujara at the other end.
And over the course of the second day the 35-year-old positively crackled, his eighth century for the club brought up shortly after tea and fulfilling the sense of inevitably that his strokeplay exuded.
Indeed, every time Pujara has passed 50 for Sussex he has gone on to turn it into three figures. Here India’s middle-order rock was at his indomitable best, defending stoutly, driving with authority and, at one stage, unfurling the trademark uppercut six that has delighted his army of supporters over the years. Pujara eventually fell for 136 from 189 balls but Sussex, 373 all out and leading by 109 runs, had secured a vice-like grip on proceedings.
All eyes are now on the forecast for the weekend and Smith will be wondering if the second of his possible six innings for Sussex will materialise. His first, starting in just the second over of the day after two early strikes, was a little scratchy at times and glorious at others. To be fair, it was noteworthy even before he opened his account by crunching his 13th ball from left-armer Ben Gibbon through the covers for four.
Both Smith and Pujara, it transpired, had walked out to the crease without “stem guards” fitted to their helmets, prompting a five-minute delay and slow hand claps from the locals as the 12th man scurried to find some. Brought into the game after the tragic death of Phillip Hughes in 2014, the additional protection to the neck may be optional at the international level but is mandatory in English domestic cricket. Smith began using one after being felled by a Jofra Archer howitzer at Lord’s during the 2019 Ashes Test but clearly remains reluctant. A fastidious player at the best of times – those quirky tics were on show here – the right-hander has previously explained how his preference to bat with his collar up sees it affect his concentration.
Only Smith will know whether this was the case here when, having picked off five fours but also fresh air on occasion, he was struck in front by Tongue. Either way, it was reward for the promising 25-year-old fast-medium who has overcome a 14-month absence due to a nerve problem in his shoulders and, after eight wickets for the Lions in Galle earlier this year, is very much on England’s radar.
Along with Pujara, an aggressive 54 from Fynn Hudson-Prentice turned the screw. Ollie Robinson, fresh from figures of seven for 59 on day one, also plundered a 21-ball 33 from No 9 and then removed Jake Libby, caught Pujara, to leave Worcestershire 34 for one at the close. With three internationals at their disposal in this Division Two match, Sussex are certainly feeling the benefit.
