Australia's Smith scores 215 in Ashes Test at Lord's

Australia's Steven Smith scored his maiden Test double century when he reached the landmark figure against England on the second day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Friday.

Smith is in the middle of a purple patch -- this was his sixth hundred in his last eight Tests and 10th in a 30-match career at this level.

The 26-year-old had twice been dismissed in the 190s in Test cricket and, two Tests ago, was out for 199 against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, last month.

In falling for 33 in both of Australia's innings during England's 169-run win in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff last week, Smith lost his position as the number one-ranked Test batsman.

But, together with opener Chris Rogers (173) he made the most of Australia captain Michael Clarke's good fortune in winning the toss at Lord's on Thursday during a second-wicket stand of 284.

Smith, who resumed on his overnight 129 not out, went to 200 when he whipped off-spinner Moeen Ali off his pads for a 24th four in 336 balls faced, with his more than eight-hour innings also featuring one six.

He then moved past Bill Brown (206 not out in 1938) to post Australia's second highest individual Test score at Lord's behind batting great Donald Bradman's 254 back in 1930.

But his hopes of breaking that 85-year-old Australia record ended in very modern fashion when he was lbw trying to reverse sweep part-time off-spinner Joe Root.
Smith reviewed the decision, something unheard of in Bradman's time, before replays confirmed his dismissal with Australia in a commanding position of 533 for six.

His innings was the seventh highest individual Test total at Lord's, a list headed by former England opener Graham Gooch's 333 against India in 1990.

Highest individual Test scores at Lord's (score, player, country, opposition, year):

333     Graham Gooch         ENG v IND 1990

259     Graeme Smith         RSA v ENG 2003

254     Don Bradman          AUS v ENG 1930

240     Wally Hammond        ENG v AUS 1938

226     Jonathan Trott       ENG v BAN 2010

221     Rob Key              ENG v WIS 2004

215     Steven Smith         AUS v ENG 2015

214 no  Gordon Greenidge     WIS v ENG 1984

211     Jack Hobbs           ENG v RSA 1924

208     Denis Compton        ENG v RSA 1947
Source: AFP