'A modern GOAT in Test cricket' - Twitter bows down to Steve Smith after 12th Ashes ton at Lord's

It was only a matter of time before Steve Smith found his groove in the iconic Ashes series, and it took him just two innings as the former Australian skipper registered a stupendous century in the first innings of the Lord's Test. It was his eighth century on English soil, the most by a visiting batter behind Don Bradman's 11 centuries. Smith extinguished a rare twin failure with the bat in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston after his glittering 32nd Test ton at the home of cricket.

Smith, who took a leaf out of Bazball in the initial part of his innings, taking on the English pacers, frustrated the English bowlers for much of the opening day of the second Test at Lord's. Following the dismissal of a well-set David Warner, Smith structured a stubborn partnership with middle-order ace Marnus Labuschagne. 

Despite Labuschagne's departure, Smith held the fort from one end, while Travis Head took the attack to the English bowlers in the third session of the first day. Although the England bowlers weren't at their best on the first day, Smith was dismissive of anything full or on his pads during a magnificent display of red-ball batting.

Steve Smith joins an elite list after 32nd Test century

The opening session of the second day saw the visitors lose Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc in quick succession. However, unperturbed by those dismissals, Smith galloped towards his 32nd Test century, the joint second-most by an Australian in Tests. It was his 15th century away from home in Tests, only behind former Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh's tally of 16 tons. 

Although he departed soon after his 12th Ashes ton, drawing level with England's Jack Hobbs for the second-most centuries in Ashes history, his innings helped the Aussies to a handsome tally in the first innings of the Lord's Test.