Australia dominated the day 1 of the Ranchi Test after having played a really bad first session. The visitors had lost 3 wickets very cheaply in the first session, allowing the Indians to take complete control of the match.
It took another solid knock from Australian captain Steve Smith to get his side back into the game. Smith scored a brave century, making 117 runs off 243 balls. Glenn Maxwell, too, impressed with the bat, ending the day at a personal score of unbeaten 82.
It was, however, Steve Smith who saved the day for Australia and made sure that at stumps, the visitors went satisfied with their performance.
On the way to his century, Smith broke a few records.
A few of them are listed here:
Most 100s at the completion of 5000 Test runs:
Steve Smith now has 19 Test centuries to his name and also 5000 Test runs. He is only the joint third-highest to reach landmark of 19 centuries and 5000 Test runs.
19th Test century: The Australian Test captain looks unstoppable with the bat as he scored his 19th Test century, 13 of which came while batting in the first innings and 11 while leading the side. This is also his 6th century against India.
Joins an elite list of visiting captains
Smith is only the third captain after Alastair Cook and Clive Lloyd to have scored 2 or more than 2 Test tons ins a series. Cook scored 3 tons in 2012-13 while Lloyd scored 2 in 1974-75 as well as 1983-84.
Third fastest to 5000 Test runs
Smith is the third fastest batsman to reach 5000 Test runs behind Don Bradman, who took 36 matches and Sunil Gavaskar who took 53 matches. Steve Smith reached the landmark in 53 matches.
