Smith’s Brilliant 140 leads Australia to a commanding 474

The numbers tell the story

Smith’s stats against India are remarkable. No other team has borne the brunt of his consistency and prolific scoring quite like India. In 43 innings, Smith has amassed 2306 runs at an average of 62.32, the most he boasts against any Test playing nation with substantial appearances. Although he has a surreal average of 124.57 against the West Indies, it comes from just 15 innings. Against India, Smith’s body of work is extensive and has a consistent impact.

relentless form

India’s bowlers have rarely found respite against Smith. His longest drought in centuries against India spanned ten innings from January 2021 to mid-2023. Even during that period, Smith managed two half-centuries and multiple promising starts. His ability to negotiate India’s formidable attack, with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, has been a hallmark of his batting.

A morning of milestones

The second day in Melbourne belonged to Smith and Australia. Resuming on the fold, Smith reached his 34th Test century in signature style, a perfectly timed push through the covers from Nitish Kumar. True to form, Smith didn’t rest on his laurels after the century, bringing the attack to India’s bowlers, including audacious over-the-shoulder sixes against Bumrah and Siraj.

By lunch, Smith’s dominance had taken Australia into a commanding position. His 112-run stand with Pat Cummins, who gave 100 runs in just 90 minutes, laid the foundation for a formidable total.

A unique dismissal ends a classic entry

Smith’s extraordinary innings ended in a manner befitting his enigmatic style. Moving down the pitch to Akash Deep, he attempted a slap down the ground but only managed an inside edge on the back leg. The ball, spinning and dribbling like a toddler’s leg break, dislodged the bails. Smith could only watch in dismay from three meters down the court. Officially recorded as bowled, the dismissal felt more like comical self-aggrandizement, marking a rare blemish on an otherwise superb performance.

India’s bowling woes

While Bumrah continued to trouble Smith and co, Mohammed Siraj endured a torrid morning. Leaking 46 runs in six overs, Siraj did not get the same support from the pitch as his teammates. Smith capitalized, sending short balls with disdain and charging down the track to punish the tossed deliveries. Rohit Sharma’s decision to reposition himself in the middle to guide Siraj underlined the struggles of India’s second pacer.

The Battle Continues

Smith’s innings may be over, but his impact lives on. Australia, in their brilliance, look set to dictate terms in this crucial test. For India, the task ahead is daunting but not insurmountable. Meanwhile, cricket fans can only marvel at the spectacle of one of the game’s best players thriving against one of its best bowling line-ups.

Smith’s ability to dominate, adapt and entertain continues to elevate him to the pantheon of Test cricket legends. For India, hope remains that they will soon discover the secret to neutralizing the enigma that is Steven Smith.