Steve Smith Joins Elite Club with 36th Test Ton, Equals Rahul Dravid's Record in SL vs AUS Clash

On day two of the second Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, Australia's top batsman Steve Smith achieved his 36th century, continuing his run of hundreds in red-ball cricket. The right-hander played a pull shot off Kamindu Mendis' bowling to reach the record with a boundary. Additionally, he has matched Rahul Dravid's 36-ton total.

The 35-year-old has been blazing ever since he produced his 33rd century against India in the Brisbane Test, ending his lengthy century drought. Following his 35th in the previous match in Galle, the former Australian skipper mentioned his 34th in the Boxing Day Test.

Steve Smith on Cloud Nine:

It's Steve Smith Test century number 36!

His fourth in the last five Tests too 🔥#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/vxfS1ShMFK

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 7, 2025

With his most recent achievement, Smith surpassed seasoned English batter Joe Root and renowned Indian batsman Rahul Dravid in terms of the number of centuries scored in the game's longest format. Additionally, he rose to become the format's fifth-highest century-maker. Smith's fluid technique at the crease helped guide his team clear of danger when he came in to bat with Australia in a bind at 37/2.

Kamindu Mendis was delivering the 63rd over of the innings and his second when the incident occurred on day two of the second Test. In the blazing heat of Galle, Smith grabbed it when Mendis dropped it short and rejoiced by kissing his Baggy Green cap. Intriguingly, Smith reached his 36th century in Test cricket in just 206 innings, but Dravid and Root reached their 36th hundreds in their 276th and 275th Test innings, respectively.

As Alex Carey hit a leg flick off Lahiru Kumara, the tourists reached 330/3 and took a 73-run lead, capping the day with a boundary. The management chose to promote Carey because Josh Inglis, who struck a century in the first Test, was suffering from a back problem. The South Australian took full most of the chance, blasting a century off just 118 balls, extending his partnership with Smith to an undefeated 239 runs.

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