Steven Smith’s Historic Feat and India’s Mixed Day at the MCG
The second day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) brought a mixture of elation for Australia and disappointment for India. While Steven Smith continued his dominance over India with a record-breaking century, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s struggles with the bat deepened further, adding to his woes in the ongoing series.
Here’s a breakdown of the key stats and highlights that shaped the day.
Steven Smith – The Master of Indian Bowling
1. Most Centuries in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
- 10 Centuries: With his latest hundred, Steven Smith surpassed Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who both had 9 centuries each in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
- This century cements Smith’s legacy as one of the most dominant batters against India.
2. A Record 11 Test Hundreds Against India
- Smith now holds the record for the most centuries by any batter against India in Tests.
- He surpassed Joe Root (10 centuries) to take the top spot.
3. Quick to the 34th Test Century
- Smith reached his 34th Test century in just 201 innings, making him the third-fastest to the milestone after legends Sachin Tendulkar (192 innings) and Ricky Ponting (193 innings).
Rohit Sharma’s Woes Continue
1. Second-Lowest Batting Average in a Season
- Rohit Sharma’s 11.07 batting average in the ongoing 2024-25 Test season is the second-lowest for an Indian batter in a season (minimum 10 innings in the top six).
- The lowest remains 10.00 by Chandu Sarwate in the 1947-48 season.
2. Struggles Against Australian Bowlers
- In a series dominated by Australia’s pacers and spinners alike, Rohit’s inability to convert starts into big scores is becoming a growing concern for India.
India’s Bowling Performance – Jasprit Bumrah Stands Out
1. Most Economical Bowler Without Conceding 100+ Runs
- Jasprit Bumrah continued his streak of not conceding 100+ runs in an innings across 84 innings – the most by any bowler in history.
- The previous record was held by England’s Mike Hendrick (54 innings).
2. Consistent Four-Wicket Hauls
- Bumrah has taken four-wicket hauls in all four matches of the series so far, a feat last achieved by Shane Warne in the iconic 2005 Ashes.
3. Expensive Spell
- Despite his achievements, Bumrah conceded 99 runs in Australia’s first innings – the most he has ever given away in a single Test innings.
Key Partnerships That Defined the Day
1. Australia’s Recovery Thanks to Smith and Labuschagne
- Despite losing early wickets, Australia recovered with Smith’s century and valuable contributions from the lower-middle order.
2. India’s Rare Century Partnerships
- In nine Tests this season, India have managed only two partnerships over 100 runs.
- Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin (199 vs Bangladesh, Chennai).
- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli (102 in Melbourne).
FAQs
Q1. How many centuries has Steven Smith scored against India in Tests?
Steven Smith has scored 11 centuries against India, the most by any batter in Test history.
Q2. What is the significance of Steven Smith’s latest century?
Smith’s century is his 10th in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. It also made him the fastest Australian to 34 Test centuries after 201 innings.
Q3. Why is Rohit Sharma struggling in the 2024-25 Test season?
Rohit Sharma has been out of form, averaging 11.07, which is the second-lowest batting average by an Indian batter in a season (minimum 10 innings).
Q4. How has Jasprit Bumrah performed in this series?
Jasprit Bumrah has been phenomenal, taking consistent four-wicket hauls in every match of the series. He has also maintained his streak of not conceding 100+ runs in an innings across 84 innings, a world record.
Q5. What was India’s performance with partnerships in 2024-25?
India has struggled with big partnerships, managing only two century partnerships across nine Tests this season.
Final Thoughts
The Boxing Day Test is turning into a nail-biter as Steven Smith continues to shine with his exceptional form, while India struggles with consistency in batting and bowling. With three days to go, it remains to be seen if India can stage a comeback or if Australia will extend their dominance and secure the Test series.
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