Australian batsman joins cricketing greats with milestone century in Galle, edging closer to history

Steve Smith once again proved his dominance in Test cricket, smashing an unbeaten 104 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. With this knock, Smith’s Test average in Sri Lanka rose to 62.75, making him one of only six players to average over 50 in seven different countries—a feat previously achieved by legends such as Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Kumar Sangakkara.

Smith now boasts a 50-plus average in England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and his home nation, Australia. His ‘Fab Four’ contemporaries, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, are just behind, achieving this milestone in six countries. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is yet to cross the 50-mark in any nation outside India.

Additionally, Smith holds a 40-plus average in nine different countries, a record matched only by Younis Khan, Ricky Ponting, and AB de Villiers. However, he falls short of Sachin Tendulkar, who holds an extraordinary 40-plus average in ten nations. The only blemish on Smith’s record remains Bangladesh, where he has struggled, managing just 119 runs in four innings in 2017.

With his century in Galle, Smith reached his 35th Test hundred, inching closer to Joe Root, who sits on 36. He also became just the fourth Australian to cross 10,000 Test runs. If he maintains his form, Smith could realistically challenge Ricky Ponting’s Australian record of 41 Test centuries, though surpassing Ponting’s 13,378-run tally would require an extended run at his peak.

Smith’s legacy is already cemented, but with his 2025 average currently at 70.50, the possibility of him rewriting records remains very much alive.