Steve Smith last five test innings (1, 1*, 0, 8, 131). Before the 27th test century, Steve Smith was criticised with “out of form" or “lost his hands” punch lines after the first two tests match in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But Steve Smith has arrived back in his typical style to slam the critics who are questioning his batting abilities. (7368 runs 136 test innings) his former country greatest player ever in cricket Don Bradman smashed 27 test centuries in just 70 test innings – the fastest by any player in cricket so far and still the record under Don Bradman name.
While other greats like Virat kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have achieved the feat of 27 test centuries in the 141 innings. Apart from the 27 test centuries Steve Smith has also equalled the number of test centuries against team India alongside Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting and Sir Garfield Sobers with 8 centuries. With 1-1 series level the third test match has begun at Sydney Ground where hosts (Australia) after winning the toss have decided to bat first and they were 166/2 at stumps on day one.
When the play resumed on the second day of the test match Australia was in the very good situation when they was 232/3 at the one stage but the wicket of Mathew Wade who was out on Ashwin ball has triggered the collapse and open the floodgates for visitors to take the remaining 7 wickets under the score of 106 runs. The last man out was Steve Smith on 131 who fell short of crease before a direct hit from Jadeja hit the stumps directly to stop the Australia first innings at the score of 338 runs. Jadeja also got 4 wickets in the first innings of Australia. The Visitors (India) got off to a good start when the openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill puton 70 runs partnership for the first wicket. Shubman Gill (50) has scored his maiden half-century before catching out at gully to green on Pat Cummins' ball. Team India stumps the day two at 96/2 still trailing by 242 runs with three days to go in the test match.
After his century the former Australia left-handed batsman Michael Hussey in the interaction with fox cricket has said –
“He looked absolutely pumped when he scored the hundred. You just can’t keep a great player down for long. It just goes to show you should never ever write off a champion. I guess I what I’d say: 'He’s a champion; he’s been a champion for a long period of time, and he played beautifully.'”
Hussey further added, this was moment the current Australian team was looking for when two of the key players Steve Smith (131) and Marnus Labuschagne (91) are back into the form before the final test match at Gabba where Australia has never lost a red-ball cricket game since 1988. Steve Smith has a 64.33 average at the Gabba ground.
“The longer you face the bowling group of the opposition, you sort of get used to their cues and what they’re trying to do to get you out and things like that. I think both really enjoy batting at the Gabba as well ... so they’ll be pretty keen to finish off strong,” Michael Hussey said.
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