The Australian star batsman Steve Smith roared back to form with an outstanding century against India in the ongoing Day 2 of the third Test match at Sydney. Steve Smith managed to put on a blockbuster show at the Sydney Cricket Ground as he completed his 27th Test century in the 98th over.
After resuming the day on 166 runs for 2, Steve Smith held the game tight while the wickets on the other end kept falling in quick succession. He had formed a decent partnership with Marnus Labuschagne.
It was a much-awaited ton off Smith’s bat as it was his first Test century in 17 months and 15 innings, as the classy batsman finally brought his drought to end. Smith scored his gutsy century in 201 balls as he smashed 13 fours. This was also the 8th century of Smith against India.
Earlier, Smith had admitted that he was struggling against R Ashwin and was looking to put him. Ashwin has already claimed twice in the ongoing series. Unlike the first two Tests, steve Smith looked more confident early on, smashing boundaries right from the start. Infact, Smith scored his fifty with a wristy four off Ashwin’s delivery.
The end result was a dominating display of batting, with Steve Smith not giving the chance to the Indian bowlers to get better of him. Though it was the slowest hundred of Smith, but he came out of a tough period with flying colors.
Meanwhile, fans on social media went berserk after the powerful performance from Steve Smith. From cricketers, cricket experts to fans, everyone celebrated the iconic knock of the Australian star batsman.
Here, check ut the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Fewest inns to 27 Test hundreds
Bradman 70
STEVE SMITH 136
Kohli 141
Tendulkar 141
Gavaskar 154
Hayden 157
#AUSvIND— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 8, 2021
Can’t keep a big player down for too long. Well batted Steve Smith! ?? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lqEDld91Zx
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 8, 2021
? You can’t keep the great, Steve Smith down for long. Test century number 27 and some sublime batting when Australia needed it. The best Australian batsman I’ve seen (didn’t see Bradman of course!). Something to celebrate on an otherwise disappointing second day so far.
— brad davidson (@braddavo) January 8, 2021
This hundred must feel a lot sweeter to Steve Smith, like being reunited with a dear one who’d gone missing #INDvsAUS
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) January 8, 2021
Steve Smith reunited with wife Dani on New Year’s eve after 129 days apart. That is a lot of lonely nights in bed. Eight days 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. #AUSvIND
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) January 8, 2021
Steve Smith has hit 34% of his international centuries against India. He just loves batting against India.#AUSvIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 8, 2021
That’s greatness …Steve Smith ???#AUSvIND
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) January 8, 2021
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) January 8, 2021
The drought is broken!
After an interval of 17 months and 15 innings, Steve Smith is a Test centurion once more.
He’s back!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xfpG8WjXbn
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 8, 2021
