Steve Smith and Aussies in ridiculous 39-year first ahead of Ashes Test

Aussie trio Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head have marked an incredible day for the nation ahead of the Ashes becoming the first three batters from one country in the ICC Test rankings in 39 years. Marnus Labuschagne has been the world's premier batter in 2023 and has only dipped briefly from the No.1 spot a number of times since 2021, with Smith following in second.

However, Head's remarkable 167 propelled him up the rankings to No.3 behind his teammates. This marks the first time since 1984 that three batters from one nation have occupied the top three spots.

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The last trio to do so were West Indian stars Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd and Larry Gomes. Smith commented on the historic achievement only two days out from the Ashes. "I think it's cool to see us all at the top of the tree," Smith said.

"I think those two in particular, the improvements they've made over the last four or five years have been exceptional. We all do it completely differently, obviously Trav comes out and plays very aggressively and takes the game on. It's sort of a 'see ball, hit ball' mentality.

"Marnus and I probably think our way through situations a little bit differently, but it is cool to see the hard work of those guys pay off and for them to get themselves up there in the rankings."

Smith and Head were the foundation of Australia's Test Championship win against India after a groundbreaking partnership.

And on day 2, Smith recorded his 31st Test century at The Oval. His century saw his Test average go above 60 again after 94 tests. Head and Smith became the first batters to score a 100+ and 200+ partnership in the Test Championship final.

And incredibly, Smith now averages more than 100 at The Oval. He joined Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid as the only three players to average more than 100 (having scored 400+ runs) at two or more grounds. Incredibly Smith has achieved this at three grounds.

Smith is now just one century short of Waugh's 32 Test centuries, with Ricky Ponting (41 Test tons) the only Aussie above them on the all-time list. The mercurial batter will also eye second-spot for Australia's all-time scorer.

And after the announcement of the batting rankings, cricket fans were wild over the remarkable feat.

Steve Smith primed ahead of Ashes first Test

Smith copped a knock on the hand ahead of the first Ashes Test in Birmingham. However, the mercurial Aussie said he it hadn't bothered him and he was ready to fire in his favourite Test.

"I think that Test match is probably my favourite out of my career so far, given the circumstances and the importance of a first Ashes Test, particularly away from home," he said. "I've had a couple of good ones.

"It would be nice to repeat it again but I'm just going to go out there and go through my routines and do what I need to do, and hopefully I can score some runs and help the team out. Coming back here I've got some wonderful memories and some things I can draw from."

Only days out from the first ball, images showed the pitch with less green than normal for an English wicket, which sparked excitement from fans for the in-form Aussie batters leading into the Ashes.

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