Who Said What: Cricketers react to Steve Smith's record-breaking ton
The third day of the Perth began with hope for England and ended with agony as Australia captain Steve Smith showed just why he is the No.1 ranked Test batsman in the world. Beginning just eight shy of his 22nd Test century, Smith swiftly knocked off those runs and then continued to pound England into the ground as Australia ended the day with a lead of 146 with six wickets in hand.
Throughout the course of the day, Smith continued to rewrite the record books as he brought up his maiden Test double century in Australia and became the first Australian captain since 1993 to score a Test double ton in an Ashes Test.
His double ton was also the first by a captain at the WACA, beating the previous-best of 176 by Bob Simpson against India in 1977. Mitchell Marsh also brought up his maiden Test century as England's bowlers wilted under the relentless run-scoring of the pair as Australia were 549/4 at the end of day three.
Here are the reactions from the cricket fraternity:
Rohit Sharma, fresh off his third ODI double century, was impressed.
Michael Vaughan thinks Smith is in a league of his own.
Kevin Pietersen wasn't happy with England's bowling plans.
And those same plans made Murali Kartik ponder.
Dean Jones thinks that it is all over for England.
Michael Clarke
Isa Guha:
Lisa Sthalekar
There was plenty of praise for Mitchell Marsh as well, who notched up his maiden Test century at his home ground.