Thu Jan 30 20:52:05 UTC 2025: ## Smith’s Century Propels Australia, Outpaces Kohli in Test Milestones

**Galle, Sri Lanka** – Steve Smith has emphatically reasserted his dominance in Test cricket, smashing his 36th century on the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka. This milestone achievement also saw him become only the fourth Australian to surpass 10,000 Test runs, currently standing at 10,140 runs with an average of 56.33 in 115 matches.

Smith’s captaincy stint, filling in for the absent Pat Cummins, has begun with a bang. Cricket commentator Aakash Chopra highlighted Smith’s remarkable century-scoring rate, surpassing even Joe Root’s prolific record. Smith reached 35 centuries in 205 innings, compared to Root’s 36 in 278 innings. This places Smith ahead of Root in terms of centuries per innings played.

Chopra’s analysis further contrasted Smith’s success with Virat Kohli’s recent struggles. While Kohli has played five more innings than Smith, he has five fewer Test centuries. This, according to Chopra, results in Kohli currently having the lowest average among the “Fab Four” – himself, Smith, Root, and Kane Williamson. Kohli’s decline is particularly stark, with only three centuries in the last five years and a disappointing 2024, where he managed just 417 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 24.52. Since the start of 2020, Kohli’s Test average has slumped to 30.72, a significant drop from his previous standards. Smith’s resurgence, therefore, serves as a stark contrast to Kohli’s recent underperformance.

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