On the second day of the fourth Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, star Australian batter Steve Smith scored his 34th Test century. Smith scored his 11th Test hundred against India, the highest by any batsman.
In the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, star Australian batsman Steve Smith hit his second consecutive Test century, extending his affection for the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On Friday, December 27, Smith defeated India, shattering the record held by former England Test captain Joe Root for the most Test hundreds. Smith scored the most runs of any batter with his eleventh Test century against India.
In 23 Test matches against India, Smith has amassed 11 hundreds and five fifties. In contrast, Root has amassed 10 hundreds and 11 fifties in 30 games against India and is now placed first in the ICC Test batter rankings. Smith struck two sixes and nine fours to get his century in 167 balls. This milestone marks his 34th Test century and his fifth at the MCG.He scored 192, his highest at this location, against India as well. Smith’s innings puts him in the same group as Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan on the all-time list of players with 34 Test hundreds.Smith’s century propelled Australia to a commanding lead, with the hosts on course for a big first innings total. Smith celebrated his century with tenacity, showing his intention to press on and secure Australia’s lead. It hasn’t been a perfect innings—Smith rarely does—but it has demonstrated his resilience and brilliance. He has navigated challenging stretches by playing the percentages, surviving testing deliveries, and once again demonstrating his incredible ability to build innings under duress.Jasprit Bumrah constantly pushed Smith, enticing edges in the channel and keeping the batter on his toes. Smith’s discipline and talent, however, won out, and he even dispatched a crisp bouncer for an audacious six right before drinks. Cummins, on the other hand, took advantage of loose deliveries and gave consistent support, ensuring that the Australians maintained their momentum. Australia are now well-positioned to turn their large total into an impressive one on a pitch that aids both bat and ball.
