Australia vs India: Twitter Lauds Steve Smith After He Ends Century Drought With Stunning Ton At SCG

Steve Smith, on Friday, finally ended his century drought in Tests by scoring a fine ton in the ongoing third Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The former Australia skipper was under pressure to deliver in the ongoing game after failing miserably in the first two Tests where he registered scores of 1, 1*, 0 and 8.

Steve Smith’s 27th Test ton came after 490 days. He had not scored a Test hundred since his Ashes-sealing double century at Old Trafford in September 2019. The right-handed batsman had failed to reach triple figures in 14 Test innings since his Ashes ton- the longest drought he had encountered since bringing up his first ton in 2013.

The century from Steve Smith was also the first one by an Australian against India since 2017. Incidentally, Smith was the one who had scored that ton when he reached the triple-digit mark against India during the Dharamsala Test in 2017. Starting the day on 31, the batting star did not look in any sort of trouble while facing the Indian bowlers who continued to strike at regular intervals at the other end.

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Marnus Labuschagne was the first wicket to ball with the batsman missing a well-deserved ton by 9 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was the bowler who provided India their first breakthrough. Jadeja struck again to remove Matthew Wade for 13. Jasprit Bumrah then sent back Cameron Green (0) and Tim Paine (1) cheaply to reduce Australia to 255 for 6.

The moment @<!---->s<!---->t<!---->e<!---->v<!---->e<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->4<!---->9 brought up his 27th Test century! @<!---->V<!---->o<!---->d<!---->a<!---->f<!---->o<!---->n<!---->e<!---->A<!---->U | #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->C<!---->7<!---->n<!---->4<!---->4<!---->7<!---->q<!---->o<!---->F<!---->T

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Pat Cummins departed without opening his account too. Steve Smith, however, held firm from his end and went on to complete his century off 201 balls. His innings finally ended when he was run out for 131. He was the last Australian wicket to fall as the hosts finished their innings on 338. Meanwhile, the cricketing fraternity was quick to praise Steve Smith for his fine knock.

Here are some of the reactions:

Tough times never last but tough people do. Steve Smith is back to where he belongs….among the runs. He was the last Australian to score a test century against India…and he’s broken that 2+ year jinx again. Incidentally his third century vs India on this tour…all at Sydney.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Well played @<!---->s<!---->t<!---->e<!---->v<!---->e<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->4<!---->9, you can't cage a lion for too long before it roars! ? #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D #<!---->P<!---->i<!---->n<!---->k<!---->T<!---->e<!---->s<!---->t @<!---->E<!---->S<!---->P<!---->N<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->i<!---->n<!---->f<!---->o

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

That's greatness …Steve Smith ???#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Can’t keep him down for long ? #<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Knew we were in trouble when he played that straight drive early in his innings yesterday . Ominous signs . Steve smith – simply brilliant !! #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a<!---->v<!---->s<!---->A<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!---->r<!---->a<!---->l<!---->i<!---->a #<!---->B<!---->o<!---->r<!---->d<!---->e<!---->r<!---->G<!---->a<!---->v<!---->a<!---->s<!---->k<!---->a<!---->r<!---->T<!---->r<!---->o<!---->p<!---->h<!---->y #<!---->B<!---->C<!---->C<!---->I

— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Sometimes when great players fail two to four innings there are a lot of opinions such as them having a fatigue bubble, less inter cricket, etc.
But class is class, at the end of the day, they know how to score runs.
Well done @<!---->s<!---->t<!---->e<!---->v<!---->e<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->4<!---->9

— Tilan Samaraweera (@TilanSam) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Sometimes when great players fail two to four innings there are a lot of opinions such as them having a fatigue bubble, less inter cricket, etc.
But class is class, at the end of the day, they know how to score runs.
Well done @<!---->s<!---->t<!---->e<!---->v<!---->e<!---->s<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->4<!---->9

— Tilan Samaraweera (@TilanSam) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Steve Smith has hit 34% of his international centuries against India. He just loves batting against India.#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Most Test hundreds against India – eight each by

Steven Smith (25 inngs) *
Gary Sobers (30 inngs)
Viv Richards (41 inngs)
Ricky Ponting (51 inngs)#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Hundred number 27 for Steven Smith in Test cricket! Special hundred considering he hadn’t scored much in Adelaide & MCG. Looked positive & in complete control at the SCG. Form is temporary, class is permanent #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

https://twitter.com/denniscricket_/status/1347379668446490627?s=21&fbclid=IwAR2C0C7YXb41fEfGJfjgbUq8J-0JdlvOYAdFHCn9N2KnuGo7mQRfThuzLRQ

Can't keep a big player down for too long. Well batted Steve Smith! ?? #<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->l<!---->q<!---->E<!---->D<!---->l<!---->d<!---->9<!---->1<!---->Z<!---->x

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Most centuries against India in Tests:

8 – Ricky Ponting
8 – Viv Richards
8 – Gary Sobers
8 – Steve Smith*#<!---->A<!---->U<!---->S<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Well played #<!---->S<!---->m<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h.Truly a cricket genius of the modern time. Remove Smith ton in Sydney, Aus would have been struggling the same way as they did in first two Tests. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->C<!---->o<!---->a<!---->j<!---->P<!---->o<!---->A<!---->B<!---->2<!---->2

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

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