BGT 2024-25: Steve Smith breaks Ricky Ponting's unnoticed record with hundred in Brisbane test

Steve Smith racked up his 33rd test ton on Sunday in Brisbane.

After a wait of over 17 months, star Australian batsman Steve Smith ended his century drought to bring up his 33rd test hundred during Australia’s first innings of the Brisbane test of the BGT 2024-25.

Smith didn’t start fluently as he fended, edged and missed balls from the Indian pacers. However, as Travis Head soared into his innings and occupied most of the spaces in the minds of the Indian bowlers and captain, Smith gradually got into rhythm by knocking around deliveries for easy singles and twos.

Once he got his eye in, especially after reaching his half-century, Smith took down the Indian bowlers with authority. Smith’s knock of 101 runs off 190 balls included 12 boundaries. He played a second fiddle to Head as the pair plundered a double-century partnership to take their side from 75/3 to 316/4.

Smith showed why he is hailed as the best test batsman of this generation as he got out of a form slump this year and reeled off his 33rd test century, going past Steve Waugh’s tally of 32 to become Australia’s second-highest test centurion, with only Ricky Ponting with 41 centuries sitting ahead of him.

However, Smith surpassed Ponting on one special record, which is of the most centuries against India. This was Smith’s 10th test century against India, which is the joint-most any batsman has made against India in tests, along with Joe Root. Smith also has five ODI hundreds against the Men In Blue.

With 15 hundreds, Smith broke Ricky Ponting’s record of most international centuries against India.

Most centuries against India in international cricket:

1. Steve Smith – 15
2. Ricky Ponting – 14
3. Joe Root – 13
4. Viv Richards – 11
5. Kumar Sangakkara – 11

Meanwhile, Australia are on top at the end of day 2 in Brisbane at 405/7. Head blasted 152 (160) and Smith scored 101 (190), while Jasprit Bumrah claimed the 12th five-for of his test career.

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