In a masterclass of batting at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith not only answered Joe Root's century but also etched his name deeper into the history books on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Smith's flawless innings saw him reach his 37th Test century, a milestone he achieved in a marginally quicker time than the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar.
A Record-Knock at the SCG
Walking in after the fall of nightwatcher Michael Neser on the third day of the final Ashes Test, Smith capitalized on the flattened conditions. His century was a seamless effort, coming after Travis Head's whirlwind 163 had significantly reduced England's first-innings lead of 384. The hundred was Smith's fifth at the SCG in just 20 innings, equalling his own record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where he has five centuries in 22 innings.
Surpassing Legends: Tendulkar and Hobbs
The core of the achievement lies in the speed of this milestone. Smith reached his 37th Test hundred in 219 innings, one innings faster than Sachin Tendulkar, who got there in 220. The fastest to this mark remains Smith's compatriot Ricky Ponting (212 innings), followed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (218). In contrast, England's Joe Root, who scored his 41st Test ton a day earlier, was the slowest to 37 centuries, taking 284 innings.
Furthermore, this was Smith's 13th Ashes century, a feat that saw him overhaul England's legendary Jack Hobbs. He now stands alone in second place on the all-time list of most Ashes hundreds. The only man ahead of him is the peerless Sir Don Bradman, who amassed 19 centuries against England in a mere 63 innings.
Captain's Knock and Elite Career Stats
Leading the side in Pat Cummins' absence, Smith also registered his 18th Test century as captain. This places him fourth on the all-time list, behind only Graeme Smith (25), Virat Kohli (20), and Ricky Ponting (19). With an average of over 68 as skipper, no captain in Test history has aggregated more runs at a higher average.
Smith, who became the fourth Australian to cross 10,000 Test runs last year, continues to boast staggering career numbers. Among the elite group of 15 batters with over 10,000 Test runs, his average of over 56 is the second-highest ever, trailing only Kumar Sangakkara's 57.40. His remarkable tally includes 36 centuries, four of which are double hundreds, alongside 45 half-centuries.
This innings at the SCG was a potent reminder of Steve Smith's enduring class and his appetite for big scores in crucial contests, further solidifying his status as one of the modern greats of Test cricket.
