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Amazing Smith is Australia's new milestone man!

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 19:53 IST

Australia captain Steven Smith's domination reached new heights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, states Rajneesh Gupta

Steven Smith of Australia leaves the field

Steven Smith of Australia leaves the field. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Australia captain Steven Smith’s incredible year with bat continued. He scored a career-best 192 (305 balls, 17 fours and two sixes) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, his third hundred of the series on Saturday. Smith helped his side set an imposing target of 530 on day two of the third Test against India.

There were apprehensions about the impact of captaincy burden on Smith’s batting when he took the charge from Michael Clarke but Smith has put all such concerns to rest with his mind-blowing batting display.

In the process the 25-year-old became the first Australian captain to score centuries in each of his first two Tests as skipper. He is the fifth captain overall after India’s Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar, South Africa's Jackie McGlew, and England's Alastair Cook.

Hundreds in first two Tests as captain

Player

Scores

Vs

Venue

Season

Vijay Hazare (Ind)

164*

Eng

Delhi

 1951-52

 

155 & 6

Eng

Mumbai BS

1951-52

Jackie McGlew (SA)

104* & 48

Eng

Manchester

1955

 

23 & 133

Eng

Leeds

1955

Sunil Gavaskar (Ind)

116 & 35*

NZ

Auckland

1975-76

 

205 & 73

WI

Mumbai WS

1978-79

Alastair Cook (Eng)

173 & 39

Ban

Chittagong

 2009-10

 

21 & 109*

Ban

Mirpur

2009-10

Steven Smith (Aus)

133 & 28

Ind

Brisbane

 2014-15

 

192

Ind

Melbourne

2014-15

Note:

-Australia’s Greg Chappell and India’s Virat Kohli also had two centuries after first two Tests as captain, but they came in one single Test.

-Alastair Cook scored a hundred in each of his first five Tests as captain!


Steven Smith is congratulated by Brad Haddin after completing his century

Steven Smith is congratulated by Brad Haddin after completing his century. Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

The new captain’s remarkable run has continued and he has aggregated 353 runs as captain in just three innings. Only one player – India’s Sunil Gavaskar – had scored more runs in first three innings as captain.

Most runs in first 3 innings as captain

Runs

Player

Sequence

Period

356

Sunil Gavaskar (Ind)

116, 35* & 205

1976-1978

353

Steven Smith (Aus)

133, 28 & 192

2014

325

Vijay Hazare (Ind)

164*,155 & 6

1951

308

Graeme Smith (SA)

16, 15 & 277

2003


Steven Smith of Australia celebrates

Steven Smith of Australia celebrates his century on Day 2 of the Third Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Smith has now scored hundreds in three consecutive Tests. He has become 13th Australian to accomplish this feat and first since Matthew Hayden in 2008. Interestingly, Hayden had also set the record against India. Smith is the third Australian to score hundreds in three consecutive Tests against India.

Australians with hundreds in three consecutive Tests vs India

Player

Scores

Venue

Season

David Boon

129* & 7

Sydney

1991-92

 

19 & 135

Adelaide

1991-92

 

107 & 38

Perth

1991-92

Matthew Hayden

124 & 47

Melbourne

2007-08

 

13 & 123

Sydney

2007-08

 

103

Adelaide

2007-08

Steven Smith

162* &52*

Adelaide

2014-15

 

133 & 28

Brisbane

 2014-15

 

192

Melbourne

2014-15

-Rajneesh Gupta