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Steve Smith returned back to doing what he does best and scored his 27th Test century in the ongoing third match of the series against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.
Smith, who had only scored 10 runs from the previous four innings of the series, ran a triple on the final ball of 98th over bowled by Navdeep Saini to reach his hundred.
In process, the Aussie superstar also surpassed India skipper Virat Kohli to get to his 27th Test ton in the fewest innings. While Kohli took 141 i🎶nnings to achieve the milestone, Smith reached the feat in hi𝓀s 136th inning.
Fewest inns to 27 Test hundreds:
- Don Bradman – 70
- Steve Smith – 136
- Virat Kohli – 141
- Sachin Tendulkar – 141
- Sunil Gavaskar – 154
- Matthew Hayden – 157
Riding on Smith’s 131, Marnus Labuschagne’s 91 and Will Pucovski’s 62, Australia put up 338 runs on the board in their first innings.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Maybe Steve Smith h🐬ad different🎀 hands for white ball and red ball cricket.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber)
After a lean run for Smith, that seemed as much a raw relea♐se of relief as it did a celebration.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
There it is 🙌
Steve Smith makes a vital 💯 at the SCG!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket)
Steve Smith so excited that he nearly slipped while takꦇing his helmet off and raising his b💯at
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
Hundred number 27 for Steven Smith in🤪 Test cricket! Special hundred considering he hadn’t scored much in Adelaide & MCG. Looked positive & in complete control at the SCG. Form is temporary, class is permanent
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Sydney, it had to be for his 💯
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
In Smith’s last four Test innings he scored: 1, 1*, 🦆, 8. A poor run of form. G🐷etting his ton at his home ground today must feel oh so sweet. Not a fast 100 either, he worked hard for it. 🇦🇺🇮🇳
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
Smith also equals the record for most Test 100s (8) v India. Here's the breakdown:
STEVE SMITH 8 in 25 inns
Sobers 8/30
Viv Richards 8/41
Ponting 8/51
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09)
That's greatness …Steve Smith 👏👏👏
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7)
Steve Smith's first century on home soil since Boxing Day Test, 2017. Also ends run of 14 innings without Test ton. His longest is 22 before his maiden 100 in 2013.
— Andrew Wu (@wutube)
Smith does it! A🤪lmost an angry celebration he was so fired up.. brilliant century from the superst��ar.
— Melanie McLaughlin (@Mel_Mclaughlin)
Can’t keep him down for long 💯
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
Another Steve Smith century, No 27, and only 31yrs – avg 61. We really are privileged and blessed in this decade to be watching three great batsmen of the modern game. Kane Williamson: 30yrs – avg 54.
Virat Kohli: 32yrs- avg 53.— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
Well played , you can't cage a lion for too long before it roars! 💯
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket)
Can't keep a big player down for too long. Well batted Steve Smith! 👏👏
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Steve Smith reunited with wife Dani on New Year’s eve after 129 days apart. T⛦hat is a lot of lonely nights in bed. Eight day👍s on and Smith becomes the first Australian to score a century against India on home soil in six years. Probably fair to connect those dots.
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger)
Most Test hundreds for Australia
40 – Ricky Ponting
32 – Steve Waugh
30 – Matthew Hayden
29 – Don Bradman
28 – Michael Clarke
27 – Allan Border, Steve Smith— Sam Ferris (@samuelfez)
Tough times never last but tough people do. Steve Smith is back to where he belongs….among the runs. He was the last Australian to score a test century against India…and he’s broken that 2+ year jinx again. Incidentally his third century vs India on this tour…all at Sydney.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
