Tags: India tour of Australia 2024-25, Australia vs India, 4th Test in Melbourne, 26-30 December 2024, India, Australia, Stephen Peter Devereaux-Smith
Published on: December 27, 2024
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In the annals of cricket rivalry, few players have tormented Indian bowlers as consistently as Steven Smith. As India hunt for the final Australian wicket on day two of the fourth Test in Melbourne, Smith’s mastery against the Men in Blue requires a closer look.
The numbers tell the story
Smith’s statistics against India were astonishing. No other team has borne the brunt of their consistency and prolific scoring like India. Across 43 innings, Smith has amassed 2,306 runs at an average of 62.32, the highest he can boast against any Test nation with senior appearances. While he has a surreal average of 124.57 against the West Indies, it comes from just 15 innings. Against India, Smith’s body of work has been extensive and consistently influential.
An uncompromising model
India’s bowlers rarely found relief against Smith. His longest century drought against India spanned ten innings from January 2021 to mid-2023. Even during this period, Smith managed two half-centuries and several promising starts. His ability to negotiate India’s formidable attack, which includes the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, has been a hallmark of his batting.
Morning landmarks
Day two in Melbourne belongs to Smith and Australia. resume in crease, Smith reached his 34th Test century In style, a perfectly timed push via Nitish Kumar’s covers. True to form, Smith did not rest on his laurels after the century, taking the attack to India’s bowlers, including bold over-the-shoulder sixes against Bumrah and Siraj.
By lunch, Smith’s dominance had taken Australia into a commanding position. His 112-run stand with Pat Cummins, in which he notched 100 runs in just 90 minutes, laid the foundation for a massive total.
The unique dismissal ends the classic innings
Smith’s unusual innings ended in a manner befitting his enigmatic style. He stepped up the pitch to Akash Deb, tried to slap it down the ground but only managed to hit the inside edge with his back leg. The ball, spinning and dribbling like a young child’s broken leg, dislodged the bails. Smith could only watch in horror from three meters away on the track. The dismissal was officially recorded as a throw-in, and it felt like a comedic self-escape, a rare blemish in a great performance.
Bowling problems in india
While Bumrah continued to trouble Smith and Co., Mohammed Siraj endured a scorching morning. After leaking 46 runs in six overs, Siraj failed to get the same help from the field as his teammates. Smith took advantage of this, disdainfully fielding short balls and running down the track to punish lofty deliveries. Rohit Sharma’s decision to reposition himself at midwicket to guide Siraj highlighted the difficulties faced by India’s second-choice spinner.
The battle continues
Smith’s roles may be over, but her impact lives on. Australia, relying on his brilliance, appears ready to dictate the terms in this crucial Test. For India, the task ahead is daunting but not insurmountable. Meanwhile, cricket fans can’t help but marvel at the sight of one of the game’s greatest players impressing against one of the best bowling line-ups.
Smith’s ability to control, adapt and entertain continues to elevate him to the status of Test cricket legend. For India, hope remains that they will soon discover the secret to neutralizing the Steven Smith mystery.
