Smith’s Brilliant 140 Leads Australia to a Commanding 474

The numbers tell the story

Smith’s statistics against India are remarkable. No other team has borne the brunt of their consistency and prolific goalscoring like India. In 43 innings, Smith amassed 2306 runs at an average of 62.32, the highest score he boasts against any Test nation with substantial appearances. While he posted a surreal average of 124.57 against the West Indies, it comes from just 15 innings. Against India, Smith’s work is both expansive and consistently impactful.

Relentless form

Indian bowlers rarely found respite against Smith. His longest century drought against India lasted ten innings from January 2021 to mid-2023. Even during this period, Smith managed two half-centuries and several promising debuts. His ability to negotiate the formidable Indian attack, featuring Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, was the hallmark of his batting.

A morning of milestones

Day two in Melbourne belonged to Smith and Australia. Returning to the fold, Smith reached his 34th Test century in signature style, a perfectly timed passage covers Nitish Kumar. True to form, Smith did not rest on his laurels after the century, attacking the Indian bowlers, including audacious over-the-shoulder sixes against Bumrah and Siraj.

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

A single dismissal ends a classic round

Smith’s extraordinary innings ended in a manner befitting his enigmatic style. Advancing down the field to Akash Deep, he attempted a ground slap but only managed an inside edge off his back leg. The ball, spinning and dribbling like a toddler’s broken leg, dislodged the handles. Smith could only watch in dismay from ten feet away. Officially recorded as bowling, the dismissal seemed more like a comical self-unpacking, marking a rare blemish in an otherwise magnificent performance.

Bowling woes in India

While Bumrah continued to trouble Smith and company, Mohammed Siraj endured a torrid morning. Leaking 46 runs in six overs, Siraj failed to extract the same help from the field as his teammates. Smith capitalized, sending short balls with disdain and charging down the track to punish the rearing deliveries. Rohit Sharma’s decision to reposition himself midway through to guide Siraj highlighted the Indian second pacer’s struggles.

The battle continues

Smith’s innings may be over, but his impact lingers. Australia, with its genius, seems ready to dictate the conditions of this crucial test. For India, the task ahead is colossal but not insurmountable. Cricket fans, meanwhile, can only marvel at the spectacle of one of the game’s greatest players flourishing against one of its best bowling line-ups.

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