Steve Smith Centuries

Steve Smith scoring a Test Century (Source: Twitter)

If we turn the pages of Cricket history, we will come across Australia as one of the superpowers. They dominated the sports for over 12 years in all the formats from 1999 to 2011. We have seen Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, and Adam Gilchrist during this era thrashing the bowlers of all the other teams in different parts of the world. 

Besides this golden era, great batters like Allan Border, David Boon, Steve Waugh, and Greg Chappell have graced Australian cricket. And, of course, the man with the best test average and the best batter to have ever played the game, Sir Donald Bradman, was from Australia.  

The legacy has been carried forward as Steve Smith has taken over the reins after Ricky Ponting decided to draw curtains over his career. In the post-Ponting era, Smith has been Australia's most prolific and consistent run-scorer, especially in the purest format of the game. Here in this article, we will look at the centuries that Smith has scored till now in his 13 years long international career.

Steve Smith's Centuries in Cricket

Steve Smith has scored 66 centuries in his professional cricketing career. However, if we speak about the numbers in international cricket, he has 44 centuries to his name. 

The Test record for Smith is excellent, as he has scored 32 centuries in the format in 99 matches while scoring runs at an average of 59.73. On the other hand, in ODIs, the number of centuries for Smith is 12 in 142 matches. He is yet to score a hundred in the T20I format, however, he has got two to his name in BBL and one in IPL. 

Understanding the legacy of Steve Smith

Steve Smith began his career as a proper leg spin bowler who could bat a bit. But evolution hit him, and Smith turned out to be one of the finest Test batters of his era. 

He has dominated all the bowling sides in different parts of the world. While he looked like a decent batter in the longest format from the beginning of his career, his first Test hundred against England at Kennington Oval laid the path to his greatness. But critics have always talked about his batting prowess in the limited overs, especially in the T20 format. Smith was ready to reply with his class notching up two super-aggressive hundreds in BBL 2022-23.

As far as the ODI records of Steve Smith are concerned though the numbers are not too big or significant, he has scored some important hundreds for the team. His batting signifies how a someone of his calibre absorbs the pressure at the highest level and delivers whenever the team needs him.

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Steve Smith's Most Iconic Test Centuries

With the number aggregating to 31, there are bound to be some masterpieces. In this section, we take a look at the top three most iconic Test hundreds by the modern master. 

3. 239 vs England at WACA, Perth, in 2017

Steve Smith during his 239 vs England (Source: Twitter)

England batted first in this match and scored 403 runs, courtesy of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow centuries. 

Australia was under pressure after losing their two openers for just 55 runs when Steve Smith walked out to bat. He stabilised the proceedings for his team at first and then went on to dominate the bowlers and scored 239 runs, which remains his highest Test score. 

Smith was aided by Mitchell Marsh, who scored 181 runs and helped Australia to a massive total of 662 runs. The Australian bowlers bundled out England for 218 runs in the last innings of the match, and Smith was the architect of a huge Australian win over their arch-rivals, England, by an innings and 41 runs.

2. 142 vs England at Edgbaston, England, in 2019

Steve Smith during his 142 vs England (Source: Twitter)

Australia batted first in the match and scored just 284 runs before being bundled out. Steve Smith scored 144 runs and was the sole reason Australia reached something substantial. 

England went past the Australian total and scored 374 runs taking a 90 runs lead. In the second innings, Steve Smith led the Australian charge and scored one more hundred in the match. He notched up 142 runs off 207 balls and, supported by Matthew Wade's 110 off 143, helped Australia reach 487 runs. 

England had to chase managed to score just 146 runs in the last innings before being bundled out, and Australia won the match by 251 runs. The significance of the innings by Smith lies in the fact that it came under pressure when his team needed it, and he dug his team out of a hole in this match. 

3. 109 vs India at MCA Stadium, India, in 2017

Steve Smith vs India (Source: Twitter)

This was one of the examples where India fell prey to their trap. On a wicket that offered assistance to the spinners from the first day of the Test, Australia batted first and posted 260 runs. 

After this, Steve O'Keefe broke the backbone of the Indian batting and restricted the home side to just 107 runs. While moving into the dynamic phase of the match, Australia had a considerable lead, but India was looking to make a comeback. Steve Smith played a masterclass in Australia's second innings and scored 109 runs. His innings helped the team to a total of 285 runs setting a target of 441 runs for India. 

India scored 107 runs in the fourth innings and lost the match by a massive margin of 333 runs. While Steve O'Keefe was the prime architect of this big Australian win, Steve Smith played an undeniable role in this win.

Steve Smith's Top 3 ODI Centuries

In his ODI career, Steve Smith has scored 12 centuries. Here is a look at the top three ODI centuries.

3. 108* vs Pakistan at WACA, Australia, in 2017

Steve Smith during his knock of 108* vs Pakistan (Source: Twitter)

This century of Steve Smith came in a chasing cause. Australia were chasing a target of 264 set by Pakistan at WACA. 

Smith came into bat after Warner's dismissal, when the team's score was 44. After this, they lost one more wicket with only a run added to the total. When things were starting to get dicey for the Aussies, Steve Smith and Peter Handscombe (82 off 84) formed a partnership of 183 runs and ensured that their team marched towards a victory. 

Smith remained not out at 108 off 104 balls and took Australia to a seven-wicket victory with five overs remaining in the match. 

2. 164 vs New Zealand at SCG, Australia, in 2016

Steve Smith played a knock of 164 vs New Zealand (Source: Twitter)

This century came for Steve Smith while batting first. He walked in early to bat as Australia lost the first wicket for only one run on the board. 

Smith walked in and played a brilliant knock of 164 runs from just 157 balls. He ensured that Australia reached a mammoth total of 324 runs in their allotted 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets. 

The Aussie bowlers were on money from the very beginning of the chase. Australia restricted the Kiwis to 256 runs and won the match by 68 runs. This effort of Smith remains the top-score by Steve Smith in ODI Cricket. 

3. 149 vs India at WACA, Australia, in 2016

Smith Smith while scoring 149 runs vs India (Source: Twitter)

This was one special effort by Steve Smith. India batted first in the match and posted 310 runs on the board in their 50 overs. Rohit Sharma played a brilliant hand scoring 171 runs off just 163 balls and was aided by Virat Kohli, who scored 91 runs off 97 balls. 

Australia were under pressure during the chase as they lost Aaron Finch at the score of nine. Smith walked in at this stage and started to firm himself at the crease. George Bailey (112 off 120) assisted him, and the duo stitched together a partnership of 242 runs. Steve Smith stayed in the middle till Australia was just two runs away from victory. His score of 149 runs off just 135 balls ensured that the Aussies won the match by five wickets with four balls remaining. 

Steve Smith Centuries in IPL 

Smith's only IPL hundred came against Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016 (Source: Twitter)

Steve Smith has scored only one hundred in the Indian Premier League. This century came against the now-disbanded team, Gujarat Lions, in IPL 2016. Smith played a brilliant knock of 101 runs from 54 balls while batting first in the match. But unfortunately, Gujarat Lions chased down the target, and the effort by Smith for the Rising Pune Supergiants ended in a losing cause.

Steve Smith Centuries in T20 Cricket

Barring the hundred in the IPL, Steve Smith has also notched up two hundreds in the Big Bash League. In back-to-back matches, these hundreds came in the BBL 2022-23 season against Sydney Thunders and Adelaide Strikers. So the total aggregate centuries for Smith in T20 Cricket is three. 

Steve Smith Centuries in T20I Cricket

Steve Smith is yet to score a hundred in the T20I format. 

Steve Smith's Centuries in Test Cricket

Here is a look at the centuries scored by Steve Smith in Test cricket.

Steve Smith's Centuries in ODI Cricket

Here is a look at the centuries scored by Steve Smith in ODI cricket.

Steve Smith's Centuries in IPL 

Steve Smith has scored only one century in IPL.

Steve Smith Centuries in T20 Cricket 

Steve Smith has three hundred in T20 Cricket.

Steve Smith Centuries in T20I Cricket

Steve Smith has still now not scored a century in T20I Cricket.

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