Steve Smith reached another significant milestone by scoring his 36th Test century during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium on February 7. With this century, Smith has now joined legends Rahul Dravid and Joe Root as the joint-fifth highest century maker in Test history, with only Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Jack Hobbs above them.
Smith's achievement came on Day 2 of the match, with Australia leading at stumps with 330 for 3, giving them a 73-run first-innings lead. The Australian batter not only came away with his century but also demonstrated remarkable resilience, walking onto the field at a precarious position of 37 for 2 after early dismissals, and going on to stitch together solid partnerships, including a magnificent 150-run stand with wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
At 35 years old, and following extensive struggles earlier on, Smith's batting seems to be back at its pristine best. Remarkably, he completed this milestone in just 206 innings—making him the second fastest player to score 36 Test centuries, trailing only Ricky Ponting, who achieved this feat in 200 innings.
This latest hundred brought Smith's performance to the limelight after he had already achieved 10,000 runs during the first Test of the series. Smith became the fourth Australian to join the exclusive club, highlighting his position as one of the finest cricketers from Australia.
Smith's century also marked his seventh in Asian conditions, setting the record for the most centuries by any Australian player on the continent, surpassing the prior record held by Allan Border with six centuries.
The partnership with Carey was another notable aspect of Smith's innings; Carey himself scored 139 not out and was instrumental alongside Smith, allowing Australia to distance itself from the early setbacks. Their partnership is now being called pivotal to the match, as it not only stabilized the innings but also allowed Australia to take control.
Australia's previous triumphs included their dominant victory by innings and 242 runs over Sri Lanka in the first Test, strengthening the visiting team's morale and confidence going forward. Smith's performances have rejuvenated discussions about his standings among the current cricket greats.
This century and the substantial partnership with Carey serve as reminders of Smith's exceptional talent and capability to dominate games when the pressure is highest. Smith was also recorded surviving two lbw reviews during his innings—one on the match’s first ball and one on his 23rd delivery—underscoring not just luck but skill as he navigated the trickiness of the Sri Lankan attack.
With performances like these, he’s expected to continue exerting pressure on Sri Lankan bowlers and push for even more runs. Currently, among active players, only Joe Root exceeds Smith’s Test runs, with Root accumulating 12,972 runs.
Smith’s success against Sri Lankan sides has been particularly noteworthy. He has consistently scored highly, evidenced by his average being above fifty across Asian conditions including Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan. His current form and historical batting prowess led to many cricket analysts deeming him one of the modern-day greats of the sport.
Overall, Smith's 36th Test century solidifies not only his skill but also his importance to the Australian team. With the series poised at 1-0 following the first Test, all eyes will remain focused on the remaining match days as fans anticipate how many more runs Smith can add to his illustrious career tally.