Smith's Brilliant 140 takes Australia to a commanding 474

The numbers tell the story

Smith's stats against India are outstanding. No other team has borne the brunt of his consistency and prolific output like India. In 43 innings, Smith amassed 2306 runs at an average of 62.32, the most he can boast against any Test playing nation with significant performances. Although he has a surreal average of 124.57 against the West Indies, it comes from just 15 innings. Against India, Smith's workload is massive and consistently impressive.

Unrelenting Form

Indian bowlers rarely found respite against Smith. His longest drought between centuries against India spanned ten innings from January 2021 to mid-2023. Even during this period, Smith managed two half-centuries and more promising starts. His ability to negotiate India's fearsome attack, which featured Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, was a hallmark of his batting.

Milestone morning

The second day in Melbourne belonged to Smith and Australia. Continuing on the fold, Smith reached his 34th Test century in signature style, a perfectly timed cover by Nitish Kumar. True to form, Smith didn't rest on his laurels after the century, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers, including audacious over-the-shoulder sixes against Bumrah and Siraj.

By lunch, Smith's dominance had put Australia in a commanding position. His 112-run stand with Pat Cummins, which put up 100 runs in just 90 minutes, laid the foundation for a stunning total.

A single dismissal ends a classic innings

Smith's remarkable innings ended in a manner befitting his enigmatic style. Advancing down the pitch to Akash Deep, he tried to hit it down the ground but managed just an inside edge on the back foot. The ball, spinning and dribbling like a broken leg from a small child, threw out the bails. Smith could only watch in horror from three meters down the track. Officially recorded as bowled, the dismissal was more of a comical self-avoidance, marking a rare blemish in an otherwise magnificent performance.

Indian bowler woes

While Bumrah continued to trouble Smith and company, Mohammed Siraj endured a warm morning. Conceding 46 runs in six overs, Siraj failed to get the same assist from the field as his teammates. Smith capitalized, sending short balls with disdain and charging down the track to punish over-slung deliveries. Rohit Sharma's decision to re-position himself in the middle to lead Siraj highlighted the struggles of India's second pacer.

The battle continues

Smith's innings may be over, but its impact remains. Australia, based on his brilliance, look set to dictate terms in this crucial Test. For India, the task ahead is daunting but not insurmountable. Meanwhile, cricket fans can only marvel at the spectacle of one of the game's greatest players thriving against one of its best bowling line-ups.

Smith's ability to dominate, adapt and entertain continues to elevate him into the pantheon of Test cricket legends. For India, hope remains that they will soon discover the secret to neutralizing the enigma that is Steven Smith.