Smith’s brilliant 140 takes Australia to a confident 474

The numbers tell the story

Smith’s statistics against India are remarkable. No other team has borne the brunt of its consistency and high scoring prowess like India. In 43 innings, Smith scored 2306 runs at an average of 62.32, the highest he has scored against any Test playing nation with notable performances. Although he has a surreal average of 124.57 against the West Indies, this comes from just 15 innings. Against India, Smith’s work is both extensive and consistently effective.

Relentless form

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

A morning full of milestones

The second day in Melbourne belonged to Smith and Australia. resumption at the fold, Smith reached his 34th Test century in signature style, a perfectly timed push-through cover by Nitish Kumar. True to form, Smith did not rest on his laurels after the century and handed the attack over to the Indian bowlers, including bold over-the-shoulder sixes off Bumrah and Siraj.

By lunch, Smith’s dominance had put Australia in a leading position. His 112-run stand with Pat Cummins, which yielded 100 runs in just 90 minutes, laid the foundation for an impressive total.

A unique shutout ends a classic innings

Smith’s exceptional innings ended in a way that suited his enigmatic style. As he advanced down the pitch to Akash Deep, he attempted a shot at the ground but only managed an inside edge to his back leg. The ball, spinning and dribbling like a toddler breaking a leg, came loose from the bails. Smith could only watch in dismay from ten feet away. Officially recorded as bowling, the dismissal felt more like a comical no-brainer, a rare blemish in an otherwise great performance.

India’s bowling woes

While Bumrah Smith and Co. continued to cause problems, Mohammed Siraj had a torrid morning. As he lost 46 runs in six overs, Siraj failed to get the same support from the field as his teammates. Smith capitalized on this, sending disdainful short balls and charging down the lane to punish overballs. Rohit Sharma’s decision to reposition himself in the middle to guide Siraj highlighted the difficulties of India’s second pacer.

The fight continues

Smith’s innings may be over but the impact remains. Australia, backed by their brilliance, appear poised to dictate the terms in this crucial Test. For India, the task ahead is formidable but not insurmountable. Cricket fans, on the other hand, can only marvel at the spectacle of one of the game’s greatest players thriving against one of its best bowling teams.

Smith’s ability to dominate, adapt and entertain continues to place him in the pantheon of Test cricket legends. The hope for India remains that they will soon discover the secret to solving the mystery of Steven Smith.