Stats: Fewest innings to 23 Test centuries

Australia captain Steve Smith notched up yet another century in the ongoing fourth Ashes Test match in Melbourne at MCG. He stood tall when his team needed the most and bailed out of the trouble with a stubborn knock. This was also his 23rd Test century and the third of the series. While his double hundred in Perth showed his class, his latest ton displayed the other side of the cricketer as he saved the game for Australia. However, he also went past the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Yousuf in terms of the fewest innings to 23 Test centuries.

Smith reached his ton off a whopping 259 deliveries and had hit just six boundaries which prove he can graft the innings whenever required. Australia was in a little bit of trouble in the morning after losing David Warner and Shaun Marsh in quick succession but the skipper was unperturbed. In the process, he has climbed to the third position as far as the quickest to 23 Test centuries are concerned. He managed to achieve it in 110 innings while the legendary Sachin Tendulkar has taken 123 innings to do so. Also, Mohammad Yousuf now has taken more innings (122) than Steve Smith.

Don Bradman tops the charts

The former Australian cricketer and the greatest ever Don Bradman tops the charts, as he often does, here as well. He had notched his 23 centuries in the longest format of the game in mere 59 innings. While no one is even close to him in this regards, another legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had managed to achieve the feat in 109 outings. The list is full of legends and Steve Smith is surely being counted as one of those now in his already illustrious career. He has managed to take the honours as the best Test batsman in 2017 and would love to continue in the same vein next year as well.

Quickest to 23 Test tons

Stalemate at MCG

Australia have managed to hold England for a draw and keep them winless on the tour so far after four Tests in the five-match series. The visitors could only pick two wickets on an unresponsive pitch with Smith being the thorn in the flesh once again for them. The home side had managed to stretch the lead over 100 runs going into the last hour which eventually shrugged off any slim possibility of a result in the Test match.

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