Playing his first Test match after the infamous ball-tampering scandal which rocked Australia in 2018, Steve Smith scored his 24th century in the longest format of the game to once again stamp his authority as one of the best batsmen in the modern era.
Smith rescued the visitors after a poor start and battled English bowlers with grit and determination to complete his hundred off 184 deliveries.
Stuart Broad eventually castled him, but till then he had already taken Australia to a comprehensive first innings total – 284.
During his magnificent knock (144 runs off 219 balls), Smith surpassed the likes of Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Gavaskar to score 24 Test centuries in the fewest number of innings. Smith took 118 Test innings to reach the landmark headed by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman (66 innings).
Here’s how the Twitter world reacted to Steve Smith’s comeback in Tests:
What a 100 for Steve Smith. Under difficult conditions, arguably one of the best batsman in Test Cricket. #Ashes
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 1, 2019
Steve Smith announces his Test comeback in style. This is a very special 100 #ENGvAUS
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 1, 2019
Steve Smith has shown his class. Again. Genuine great in test cricket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 1, 2019
Take a bow Steve Smith #Ashes
— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) August 1, 2019
Really was an extraordinary innings from Steve Smith in his comeback test, an innings full of guts , intensity and tenacity .
From 122/8 , he has taken Australia to 284. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/jwapJu5FLi— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 1, 2019
Steve Smith – incredible innings,the resilience…! #TheAshes
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 1, 2019
Outstanding day of test cricket. 8/122 & a few hours later @stevesmith49 has a 100 & Root has every fielder on the fence. So happy for Smithy as he showed courage, skill & determination, just awesome. Not sure Eng know how to bowl to him. Aust will be the happier dressing room !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) August 1, 2019
Hell of a knock from Steve Smith.
Comfortably the most "fuck you" innings the game has seen. Outstanding. #Ashes
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) August 1, 2019
What this century must mean to Steve Smith! What a brilliant player!
Take a bow.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/QoIpN5QU1Q— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora) August 1, 2019
Spectacular on about a million levels. #SteveSmith #Ashes
— Melanie McLaughlin (@Mel_Mclaughlin) August 1, 2019
Steve Smith: class permanent.. never seen a batsman fidget so much and yet keep the head so still when he actually plays the ball. Proof that there is more than one way to skin a cat and score runs! #ashes2019
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 1, 2019
England fans to @stevesmith49 before #century.#SteveSmith to England Fans after century😂#ashes2019 #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/QuUHyOJPhI
— Annu Upadhyay (@Annuupadhyay) August 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/im_inaam/status/1156978812413865986
Take a bow 👏👏👏
It's never easy to come back after an year and play an outstanding innings like this. Fabulous Player.
Hail Hail #SteveSmith #Ashes #ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/TmWfltBoGy
— SatwikMathangi (@seven_week) August 1, 2019
Oh god! How things change. On March 2018, he was treated as third class criminal in the airport.
Booed almost everywhere he played during world cup.Come Ashes first day – Century. Talking with the bat. Hats off Champion!
Pic courtesy – @plalor#SteveSmith #Ashes pic.twitter.com/y5EpeTTkU2
— nagaraj (@naga25french) August 1, 2019
Steve Smith's Bat > Haters' Booing & Mocking. 💯 #Ashes #ENGvAUS #Ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/AMjO8carcD
— Prathamesh Avachare (@onlyprathamesh) August 1, 2019
#SteveSmith
Steve "scintillating" Smith 🔥💖❣️ pic.twitter.com/Mt3s4XmeFQ— SRIDHAR STAN (@SRIDHARSTAN) August 1, 2019
#SteveSmith , a class act , #Australia tottering at 122/8 against some superb fast bowling by #England recovers. #SS the one-man army along with the tail supporting him scores a brilliant 💯, to take his team to safety of 272/9! #ashes2019
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) August 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/itsarpit7/status/1156977200135987200
CENTURY! He's back 🙌
Steve Smith brings up an outstanding hundred off 184 balls – his 24th in Test cricket!
That's his ninth #Ashes ton and fourth in England. pic.twitter.com/38cr1Fys1c
— Doshant Girdhar (@Doshantgirdhar) August 1, 2019
Steve Unstoppable Smith ♥️
#Ashes #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/B1KCKUXium— Muhammad Haris (@mhbaig525) August 1, 2019
#SteveSmith is a 'Hard NUT' !
What a player!!#ashes2019 pic.twitter.com/sDrgIxXXmB
— SAKIB (@Sakib511) August 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/Stark_Fan007/status/1156978890759442433
https://twitter.com/VK18kondi/status/1156977417476382720
Can't believe that @stevesmith49 was missing the cricket field for 1 year.
Brilliant 💯 under pressure. Steve Smith continues his normal services for Australia. #Ashes2019 #SmithIsback pic.twitter.com/kemKL0qY6R— ⚡ (@Visharad_KW22) August 1, 2019
