New Delhi: Australian batter Steve Smith scored a landmark century on Day 1 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle Cricket Stadium. The modern-day icon surpassed Sunil Gavaskar, an all-time batting legend in the list of most Test centuries in Test cricket, with his 35th ton in the longest format of the game.
Indian legend Gavaskar was the first batter to reach 34 centuries and 10000 runs in Test cricket.
With 35 hundreds to his name, Smith is now only behind Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38), Joe Root (36) and Rahul Dravid (36) in the all-time list. Smith also overtook Steve Waugh and Allan Border in the list of most Test tons by an Australian captain.
Most centuries in Test cricket
Sachin Tendulkar: 51
Jacques Kallis: 45
Ricky Ponting: 41
Kumar Sangakkara: 38
Joe Root: 36
Rahul Dravid: 36
Steve Smith: 35
A day of milestones for Smith
With 16 centuries, he is only behind Ponting, who has 19 centuries as Australia skipper. Smith reached the landmark in 179 balls during the opening day’s play on Wednesday (January 29) by taking three runs through the covers off Nishan Peiris.
Earlier in the day, Smith reached the 10000-run milestone by taking a single on the first ball he faced. Smith reached the landmark in 115 matches and became the second-fastest batter to reach Mount 10k by surpassing the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Joe Root, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Younis Khan. Brian Lara is the fastest batter to reach 10000 runs in just 111 matches.
Smith is overall the 15th batter and fourth Australian to score 10000 or more runs.
Australia in cruise control
At Stumps on Day 1, Smith was unbeaten 104 off 188 balls with 10 fours and a six and Usman Khawaja was not out on 141 off 210 balls. The pair has stitched an unbeaten stand of 195 runs helping Australia reach 330/2 in 81.1 overs at the close of play. Rain prevented the Sri Lankans from bowling a full quota of 90 overs in a day.
Smith is the stand-in skipper of the Australian team in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is currently on paternity leave. Australia have reached the World Test Championship 2023-25 final following their Border-Gavaskar Trophy win against India at home. The defending champions will face South Africa in the final at Lord’s in June.
Steve Smith smashed his 35th Test century on Day 1 of the opening Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
