SL vs AUS: Steve Smith equals Rahul Dravid and Joe Root's tally after completing 36th Test century (WATCH)

Steve Smith has completed his 36th century of his illustrious Test career during Australia’s first innings batting on Day 2 of the ongoing second and final Test of the series against Sri Lanka in Galle. 

Australia’s talismanic Steve Smith has continued his brilliant run of form in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka as he notched up another century in the second match at the Galle International Stadium on Friday, February 7. 

Steve Smith has completed his 36th century of his illustrious Test career during Australia’s first innings batting on Day 2 of the ongoing second and final Test of the series. With this, Smith this, the 35–year-old has become the joint-fifth most centuries by a player in the history of Test Cricket, equalling former India captain Rahul Dravid and current England batter Joe Root’s 36 centuries. Also, the veteran Australian batter has achieved the feat of scoring the most Test centuries in Asia by an Australian batter, surpassing former captain Allan Border's record of six hundreds. 

In a video that went viral on social media, Steve Smith was seen acknowledging the applause from the Australian dressing room and spectators who gathered in Galle as soon as he completed his 36th Test century and kissed the baggy green as a symbol for his deep respect to Australian Cricket. 

Steve Smith’s century video here 

The 36th Test century is also Steve Smith’s 17th as a captain, second-most by an Australian skipper after Ricky Ponting’s 19 centuries in the history of Test Cricket. In the last five Test matches, Smith has scored four centuries, two coming against India in the Border-Gavaskar and one in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium. Also, Steve Smith is the third leading run-getter as a Australia captain in Tests, with 4128 runs, including 17 centuries and 14 fifties, at an average of 69.96 in 69 innings. 

In the first against Sri Lanka, Steve Smith completed 10,000 Test centuries, becoming the fourth batter after Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting and the overall 15th batter to achieve this milestone. The right-handed overtook former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 10122 runs to move 13th spot on the chart of leading run-getters in the history of Test Cricket. 

Steve Smith and Alex Carey’s centuries put Australia commanding position

Brilliant centuries from Steve Smith and Alex Carey ensured that Australia were in commanding position at the end of Day 2 of the second Test. After posting a total of 229/9, with Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Kumara batting on 59 and 0, respectively, Sri Lanka resumed their first innings. Australian bowlers grinded hard for 8 overs to finally bundle out hosts for 257 by dismissing Lahiru for 2. 

Australia had a good start to their innings, with opener Travis Head scoring 21 runs off 22 balls until he was dismissed at 32/1. Thereafter, Marcus Labuschange’s quickly walked back to pavilion after being dismissed for 4 at 37/4. After Labuschange’s dismissal, Steve Smith joined opener Usman Khawaja to carry on Australia’s innings. 

The pair was looking to form a good partnership until Khawaja was removed for 36 at 91/3. Thereafter, Alex Carey was joined by Steve Smith at the crease to carry on Australia’s first innings batter. The duo gave a really tough time to Sri Lanka bowlers as  they displayed their resilience and grit on the Sri Lankan conditions. Carey and Smith stitched an unbeaten 239-run stand for the fourth wicket to help Australia cross the 300-run mark. 

At the end of Day 2, Australia posted a total of 330/3 in 80 overs, with Alex Carey and Steve Smith batting 139 and 120, respectively.