Australian batsman Steve Smith on Thursday became the second fastest to score 24 test centuries, and is only behind fellow countryman Sir Donald Bradman, who took just 66 innings to achieve the amazing feat.
The 4th ranked ICC test batsman achieved the amazing feat during the opening day of the inaugural Ashes test against England in Birmingham. He scored 144 runs off 219 balls, that included 16 fours and 2 sixes, at an impressive strike rate of 65.75.
He came on to bat when Australia were reeling at 17/2, and at one point, were tottering at 122/8. Australia were crumbling under all sorts of pressure, piling on the misery, but by the time Smith departed after scoring 144, Australia had reached a respectable total of 284.
3 Indian batters have made their place in the top 5 batsmen with fewest innings to reach 24 centuries. Virat Kohli is third on the list with 123 innings, Sachin Tendulkar fourth with 125 innings, while Sunil Gavaskar with 128 innings secures the fifth place.
Twitter was flooded with warm congratulatory messages lauding Smith’s gutsy, and game changing knock. Fans and critics even called him as the best Test batsman.
Here is what old stalwarts have to say on Steve Smith gutsy knock:-
Mark Waugh- “Went to bed at 8/142 and I wake up and we have doubled our score. Steve Smith is amazing showing tremendous concentration self-belief and skill. Aussies now back in the game after a forgettable 1st 2 sessions”.
Went to bed at 8/142 and I wake up and we have doubled our score. Steve Smith is amazing showing tremendous concentration self belief and skill. Aussies now back in the game after a forgettable 1st 2 sessions.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) August 1, 2019
Virender Sehwag- “What a 100 for Steve Smith. Under difficult conditions, arguably one of the best batsman in Test Cricket”.
What a 100 for Steve Smith. Under difficult conditions, arguably one of the best batsman in Test Cricket. #Ashes
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 1, 2019
VVS Laxman- Really was an extraordinary innings from Steve Smith in his comeback test, an innings full of guts , intensity and tenacity .From 122/8 , he has taken Australia to 284.
Really was an extraordinary innings from Steve Smith in his comeback test, an innings full of guts , intensity and tenacity .
From 122/8 , he has taken Australia to 284. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/jwapJu5FLi— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 1, 2019
Aakash Chopra- Steve Smith is being Smith. The old Fighting-it-Out-Smith. How much did Australia miss him in Tests!!! But leave that aside for a moment….how brilliant Siddle has been?? Superb fightback.
Just how good is Steve Smith in white flannels….another ton. Given the context and his team’s situation, it’ll be at par with the one he scored in Pune. Grit. Determination. Best Test batsman on the planet?? #TheAshes
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 1, 2019
Sanjay Manjrekar- What’s Steve Smith’s greatest strength? His extreme focus on just one thing – Respect the good balls and score of all others. Everything else is just blurry in the background.
What’s Steve Smith’s greatest strength?
His extreme focus on just one thing – Respect the good balls and score of all others. Everything else is just blurry in the background.#respect— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 2, 2019
