SL vs AUS | Steve Smith only behind Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar in elite Test record

Charismatic Australian batter Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 145 in the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. The cricketer’s innings lasted over six hours and featured 16 glittering boundaries. 

Smith’s latest batting wonder marked his 28th century in Test match cricket, thus taking him past his contemporary batting rival Virat Kohli’s tally of hundreds.  

Notably, the Australian cricketer also surpassed former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar for a remarkable Test match record during his innings.

SL vs AUS: Steve Smith third quickest to 28 tons, overtakes Gavaskar

The New South Wales-based cricketer is now the third quickest batsman in Test history to get to 28 centuries. Smith achieved the feat while playing his 153rd Test innings, thus bettering Sunil Gavaskar, who completed the same in his 160th inning.  

As of now, the 33-year-old is only behind all-time cricketing legends Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar. With just 72 innings, Bradman remains the quickest to get to 28 Test tons. On the other hand, former Indian cricketer Tendulkar reached the milestone in 144 innings.

Moreover, by completing 28 Test hundreds, Smith is now level with Joe Root as the scorer of most centuries in Tests among active cricketers. He went past India’s Virat Kohli, who has been stuck on 27 Test tons since November 2019.

SL vs AUS 2022 updates

Riding on centuries by Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, Australia posted 364 in their first innings. Leading the series 1-0, they faced 110 overs across the first two days of the second Test.

In reply, hosts Sri Lanka lost opener Pathum Nissanka early. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne reached a well-crafted half-century during his 100-plus stand with Kusal Mendis.