Manchester: Steve Smith has entered a league of his own second only to Don Bradman - but when it comes to the Ashes, his extraordinary form is rivalling that of the greatest player the game has seen.

England captain Joe Root is now well-placed to sympathise with some of his predecessors from the 1930s and '40s such as Percy Chapman, Bob Wyatt, Gubby Allen and Wally Hammond, who were all unable to stop Bradman.

Steve Smith acknowledges the crowd after his 211 in the fourth Test. Credit:Getty Images

Root can still win the Ashes back for England but the likelihood of that happening is slim unless his bowlers can find a way to quell Australia's modern batting great.

Smith needs 209 more runs to pass Bradman's tally of 6996, a feat he is likely to either achieve next week at The Oval or later this year against Pakistan, which will be his first series on home soil since the sandpaper saga in South Africa.