Smith in line for 50 tons
Former Australia batsman Brad Hodge says Steve Smith will score “40 or 50” Test centuries and cruise past the records of all-time greats Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
Australia captain Smith notched his 20th ton during the fourth Test against India in Dharamsala, holding the visitors’ first innings together with 111.
Tendulkar leads the all-time Test hundred list, with 51 (in 200 games), from South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45 in 166) and Ponting (41 in 168).
But, in terms of Tests played, Smith is the third fastest man to ever score 20 centuries with 54 matches, behind only the incomparable Don Bradman (35 Tests) and Sunil Gavaskar (50).
Hodge said he saw no reason why the 27-year-old Smith’s appetite for runs would stop.
“Just supreme batsmanship, the craftsmanship of his skill is just immense,” Hodge said.
“He could do 40 or 50 if he’s good enough – and I think that he is – if he keeps churning them out like this.
“He’s probably going at one (century) in three (Tests) at the moment so if he keeps playing till he’s 35 ... 40 or 50 is not out of reach.
“He’s a superstar.
“I think he’ll go on to close down the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting.”
Smith now sits 11th among Australian Test century scorers, just one ton behind Neil Harvey and David Boon who share ninth place, and one ahead of Mark Taylor and Mike Hussey.
He still has a long way to go to catch first-placed Ponting (41). At the same stage of his career, Ponting had only nine centuries.
Smith’s average climbed to 62.19 and he now boasts the highest average of any batsman who have played at least 54 Tests – Bradman retired after 52 – with his century in Dharamsala taking him past the great Herbert Sutcliffe, who retired with an average of 60.73 after playing exactly 54 matches.
The next highest average by an Australian who played at least 54 Tests belongs to Greg Chappell (53.86 across 87 Tests).
Smith has scored three tons in India. No Australian has ever scored more, with Harvey and Michael Clarke the only others to have scored three.
Considering Smith is still only 27, it would be a huge shock if he was not the sole owner of the record by the time he retired.
Smith already has the highest average of any Australian who has played at least four Tests in India – he averaged 70.33 in India when he reached 100 in Dharamsala.
The next highest average by an Australian in India (minimum four Tests) is 59.40 by Kim Hughes.