Steven Smith hits 11th Test ton against India, most by any batter

Australia’s ace batter Steven Smith, on December 27 (Friday), registered his 11th Test century against India - the most by any batter in the longest format of the game against the Men in Blue. The right-hander got to the landmark on day two of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The right-hander went past England’s Joe Root, who has 10 centuries against India in 55 Test innings. Smith, however, now has 11 tons in just 43 innings.

When it comes to overall hundreds, Root is still ahead of Smith, but only by two centuries. Smith, who brought up his 34th Test ton, went past New Zealand batter Kane Williamson’s tally of 33 centuries. 

The Australian batter now has the second-most number of Test hundreds among current cricketers. Smith has got to his 34th hundred in 201 innings, which is the third fastest for a batter after Sachin Tendulkar (192 innings) and Ricky Ponting (193 innings).

Smith, who also crafted 101 in the first innings of the third Test in Brisbane, got to his hundred off 167 deliveries, with a glorious cover drive. The No.4 batter looked in complete control from the start and put Australia in a commanding position, with the series currently tied at 1-1.

Nine of his 11 hundreds against India have come in the first innings, which is also by far the most by any batter. The next on the list are Michael Clarke, David Boon and Ian Botham, who all have four centuries. For Smith, 24 of his 34 tons have come in the first innings.

This is also Smith’s fifth hundred at the MCG, making him only the fourth batter in the history of Test cricket to score five or more tons at this iconic venue. Sir Donald Bradman has nine, while Matthew Hayden and Sir Jack Hobbs have six and five centuries respectively.