Star Australian batter Steve Smith achieved his second consecutive Test century during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, further solidifying his impressive record at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On Friday, December 27, Smith dominated against the Indian bowlers, breaking a significant record by surpassing former England captain Joe Root for the most Test centuries scored against India. This marked Smith’s eleventh Test hundred against India, the highest ever recorded.
In his 23 Test matches against India, Smith has accumulated 11 centuries and five fifties. In comparison, Root has recorded 10 centuries and 11 fifties in 30 matches against India, currently ranking first in the ICC Test batter rankings. Smith reached his century off 167 balls, hitting two sixes and nine fours. This century is his fifth at the MCG and his 34th overall in Tests. His highest score at this venue against India is 192. With this achievement, Smith joins the ranks of cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan, all of whom have also scored 34 Test centuries.
**Most Test Hundreds Against India:**
– Steve Smith – 11
– Joe Root – 10
– Ricky Ponting – 8
– Vivian Richards – 8
By the end of Day 1 of the fourth Test on Thursday, Australia stood at 311 for six after India struck back with four late wickets. Teenager Sam Konstas, making his debut, captivated the MCG crowd with an exciting performance during the morning session. At that point, tailender Pat Cummins was on eight runs, while Steve Smith was still unbeaten at 68.
Following that, Smith and Cummins thwarted India’s efforts to make a comeback, forming a remarkable partnership. Smith reached his century, his second in the series, while Cummins contributed a solid 49 runs before being dismissed. Together, they helped lift their team past the 400-run mark. Even after Cummins was out, Smith continued to score freely, and by lunch on Day 2, Australia reached a total of 454/7.
Despite claiming Smith’s wicket, who scored an impressive 140 runs off 197 balls, the Indian bowlers struggled to dismiss the tailenders. Australia ultimately finished their innings at 474 runs. The only silver lining for India is that the MCG pitch appears conducive for batting; however, many of their players have been out of form, making it challenging for them throughout the series so far.
