Steve Smith equals Joe Root for unique yet massive record in Test cricket

Former Australia skipper and one of the modern-day batting greats, Steve Smith made an amazing comeback to his amazing batting form. Smith scored a crucial century for his side in the ongoing third Test against India at the Gabba in Brisbane. The veteran right-hander scored 101 runs, hitting 12 fours before getting caught in the first slip by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma off the delivery bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

Steve Smith arrived to bat for the hosts when they had lost 3 wickets at the score of 75 runs, in the first session on the second day of the match. He stitched an outstanding fourth-wicket partnership of 241 runs with the star in-form batter Travis Head.

Meanwhile, Smith has also registered a unique but massive record to his name, equaling England’s modern-day batting legend, Joe Root. The record is for hitting the highest number of Test centuries against India amongst active players. Earlier, Joe Root smashed 10 centuries against India in 55 Test innings while Smith surpassed the former by scoring his 10th century against Test only in the 41st Test innings.

The legacy of Steve Smith and Joe Root can be understood with the fact and a big difference that the batter on the number 3 in this list is Travis Head who has scored only 3 centuries in Tests against India. Head is followed by the former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Matthews who had scored 3 Test centuries against India.

Tons from Steve Smith and Travis Head propel Australia to a commanding position 

Speaking of the ongoing Brisbane Test between Australia and India, Pat Cummins’ men are currently on the front foot in the game after scoring 405 runs for the loss of 7 wickets at the time of stumps on day 2. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey (45 runs) went unbeaten, alongside the lower-order batter Mitchell Starc at the end of the day’s play.

Earlier on the second day, what made it to the headlines apart from Head and Smith’s centuries was the five-wicket haul claimed by India’s star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He scalped 5 wickets at just 72 runs in 25 overs.