Batter Steve Smith has smashed his 36th test century in the first innings of the second test of the Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025 helping the side to balance the side after top-order dismissals.
He brought up his second successive century in the ongoing test series and added up a 150-run plus stand with Alex Carey during his stay.
He got levelled with Joe Root and Rahul Dravid after the 36th century of his career in the second match against Sri Lanka on February 07. Smith who’s captaining Australia in the series in Pat Cummins’ absence, continued his rich form and reached the landmark.
Test century no. 3️⃣6️⃣ for Australia talisman Steve Smith 👏#WTC25 | #SLvAUS 📝: https://t.co/PVPw6kFuGn pic.twitter.com/PpKPvAqOj7
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2025
He has now joint-fifth most centuries in Test Cricket’s history along with Root and Dravid. Smith walked into bat after Australia were reduced to 37/2 following the dismissals of Travis Head (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (4).
Despite initial challenges in the second test, Smith survived a LBW appeal on the first ball he faced and a close edge off Prabath Jayasuriya’s bowling on 12.
His skills and experience in subcontinent conditions have prove invaluable for Australia, especially on a challenging Galle pitch where Sri Lanka scored 257 runs in the first innings.
Earlier, Smith became Australia’s highest test run-scorer in the Asian Subcontinent. He went past legendary Ricky Ponting to surpass the tally of 1889 runs in Asia. Earlier on Day 01, Ponting’s record for the most Test catches by an Australian outfielder (197).
His century was his third in four matches in Sri Lanka and his sixth overall in Asia, drawing him level with Allan Border for the most Test centuries by an Australian in the subcontinent.
Smith’s consistency has made him one of the finest batters in challenging overseas conditions. However, there remains uncertainity over whether this will be his last test in Asia.
Smith’s resilience helped the side to secure and extend the lead in the ongoing test match played at Galle.
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