Another Steve Smith century has set Australia up in a commanding position over India in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was only two weeks ago when Smith was under the pump after a poor start to the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but he has quickly turned his fortunes around. The 35-year-old has wound back the clock in the first innings of both the third and the fourth Tests, proving he's still got plenty of cricket left in him.
The vice-captain came to the crease on Boxing Day afternoon, and patiently built his score during a stable partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, before keeping firm as wickets - Travis Head (0), Mitchell Marsh (4) and Alex Carey (31) fell around him. Smith and captain Pat Cummins established a strong partnership on the second day, with 'Smudge' plundering his way to a ton just over an hour into the day. After getting a double to get to 99, Smith had one more ball to face off Nitish Kumar Reddy's over.
He drove it beautifully into the gap in the field to the boundary to bring up his 34th Test century, getting the crowd and his teammates on their feet as he celebrated, raising the bat and kissing his helmet. "Glorious stroke to bring up a glorious hundred! His 34th in Test cricket. Steve Smith loves the MCG and the MCG loves Steve Smith.
His fifth here. 60,000 absolutely love it," Fox Sports commentator Mark Howard said. Former Test star Mark Waugh said it was a sign Smith was back in form.
"Well the champ's back. Back to back hu.
