Smith’s latest century, his first since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in June 2023, is his 10th in 41 innings against India, matching Joe Root’s record, achieved in 55 innings.
After only 19 runs in three innings in the series, there was pressure on Smith, and he started scratchily and survived an lbw review when playing no shot to Mohammed Siraj.
His half-century came almost exclusively on the leg side, before he grew in confidence and played drives down the ground, through the covers and behind square.
He moved from his half-century to ton in only 57 balls as he made his 33rd Test century, moving him outright second on Australia’s all-time list, eight behind Ricky Ponting.
Acceleration was also a key part of Head’s innings as the left-hander moved from 20 at lunch to a century by the tea interval.
The second half of his century came in just 44 balls, latching particularly well on to any length offered to pull and upper cut to the boundary.
A third of Head’s Test centuries are now against India, which, combined with his match-winning 137 in last year’s 50-over World Cup final, has earned him the nickname ‘Travis Headache’ in India, according to former head coach Ravi Shastri on the TV coverage.
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