IND vs AUS: Steve Smith Joins An Elite List With His 50+

IND vs AUS: Steve Smith became part of Australian cricketing lore as he notched a half-century on the first day of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on 26th December 2024. Thus, in crossing the threshold of reaching the milestone of scoring 50 or more runs most times at the iconic venue, Smith had entered the rarefied list that none other than Don Bradman is a part of.

Smith Joins Bradman on the MCG’s Elite 50+ List

Not an ordinary innings, Steve Smith made his fifty, marking this performance as a historic one: in that knock, he became just the fourth player to record 50+ runs at the MCG in Tests more than 10 times. Today, he shares this exclusive distinction with Don Bradman- another Australian cricketing icon who scored 50+ in tests, more than 12 times at MCG.

Top Batsmen with most 50+ scores at MCG:

1. Greg Chappell – 13 times in 17 Test matches
2. Don Bradman – 12 times in 11 Test matches
3. Ricky Ponting – 11 times in 15 Test matches
4. Steve Smith – 10 times in 12 Test matches

Greg Chappell tops the list with 13 occasions of scoring 50+ at the MCG. Bradman and Ponting follow behind with 12 and 11, respectively. The fact that Smith is featured in this list says much about his consistency and dominance in Test cricket, especially at home.

IND vs AUS, Day 1 Highlights: Australia Builds Strong Foundation

 

The first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India was marked with good batting from the Australian line-up. Australia, having won the toss and elected to bat first, went forward and made good progress as the day closed at 311/6 after 86 overs. Steve Smith is still on 68* with no one else dismissed; he is joined by Pat Cummins, who, with 8, will carry on into the second day.

The opening partnership between debutant Sam Constas and veteran Usman Khawaja gave Australia a very good basis. Constas, playing in his first-ever Test match, surprised all with some quick-fire 60 and Khawaja added a decent 57 to the game. They were able to share a great opening platform of 89 runs on board to establish Australia’s innings.

Labuschagne and Smith Lead Australia’s Charge

Marnus Labuschagne also contributed to the stability of the innings, scoring 72 runs in the middle order. The innings of Labuschagne helped Australia keep the momentum going even after losing the early wickets. Still, it wasn’t all smooth for the Australians, as Travis Head (0) and Mitchell Marsh (4) could not really contribute much and got dismissed cheaply by the Indian bowlers.

At the close of play, Smith remains unbeaten on 68* and will look to extend his innings further on Day 2. Cummins, the Australian captain, will be crucial in adding more runs to the score as Australia aims to post a competitive total.

Indian Bowlers Fight Back with Key Wickets

For Team India, it was the bowling attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah. He continued his impressive form by claiming 3 wickets for the day. Consistent bowling from Bumrah broke key partnerships and remains a significant threat to Australia’s middle and lower order. Along with Bumrah, India’s spin options Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and pacer Akashdeep each claimed a wicket, with Jadeja’s contribution being pivotal in dismissing debutant Constas.

On the second day, the Indian bowlers will look to dig further into Australia’s batting lineup and make them collapse to a manageable total.

Ahead of the Day: MCG IND vs AUS Test Day 2

As the game enters Day 2, Australia will look to capitalize on its strong position with Smith and Cummins at the crease. Smith, long one of the modern greats of Test cricket, would look to convert his half-century into a more significant score, possibly pushing for a century.

India, on the other hand, will hope to make early breakthroughs to halt Australia’s progress and keep the match in the balance. With the likes of Bumrah and Jadeja leading the charge, the visitors will be focused on getting quick wickets and staying competitive in the contest.

Steve Smith’s joining Don Bradman on the list of players to score most 50+ scores at MCG would go to show how he’s one for consistency and excellence on big stages. As the game goes on, everyone’s eyes will be on Steve Smith to see if he can turn his good start into a match-winning innings. Day 1 saw brilliance from both sides and the fourth test is promising to be an electrifying contest between the two sides in the battle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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