This was Steve Smith's 19th Test century in 53 games.
Australia captain Steve Smith continued to lead from the front, as he did in the previous two sessions of the day to help his team reach a comfortable 299/4 at stumps on the opening day of the third Test at the JSCA International Stadium here on Thursday.
When Smith on-drove part-time off-spinner Murali Vijay for a four to reach his 19th Test century in 53 games, he posted his second three-figure mark of the series and has already won a personal battle with his rival captain Virat Kohli in terms of the runs scored this series.
But keeping aside personal landmarks, Smith ensured that Australia finished the day on a high and in the company of Glenn Maxwell, who was playing only his fourth Test and first since November 2014, played an equally responsible knock as the two shared unbroken 159 for the fifth wicket on a good batting pitch – the highest partnership of the series so far.
In an entire session when Kohli was off the field following a shoulder injury sustained while diving and stopping the ball from reaching the boundary in the second session and was taking ice-pack treatment, his deputy Ajinkya Rahane made frequent bowling changes. But with no rewards.
The Smith-Maxwell duo also saw the highest team total reached in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy rubber after none of the previous two Tests saw any team score in excess of 290. Pace or spin made no difference to Smith and Maxwell who did not let go loose deliveries unpunished.
Smith resumed post tea at 80 and did not show any urgency to reach his century. He took 66 deliveries to score 23 runs and reach the coveted milestone. Maxwell was the more attacking player, even though by his standards, he had curbed his attacking instincts. So much so that his first boundary came after facing 56 deliveries.
But once he tasted his first boundary, he did not keep quiet. Twice he slammed Jadeja for sixes – one over mid-wicket and another straight – but at other times, he milked the Indian bowling along with his captain to not give any chance to the hosts.
Smith was all serious, focussing on the task at hand – of taking his team to a strong position. So much so that at one stage, when on 97, there was a funny moment with the ball dislodging between his legs off Jadeja and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was bent upon taking the ball before it fell on to the ground. Even the umpire Ian Gould burst into laughter but no way the appeal for caught could be given as the ball becomes dead when it “whether played or not it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batsman or the clothing of an umpire”.
The incident did not amuse Smith at all, showing how much focussed he was at the job on hand.
Brief scores: At stumps: Australia 299/4 in 90 overs (S Smith 117*, G Maxwell 82*)
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