Australia vs India: Steve Smith and Travis Head hit centuries in Brisbane Test

Smith’s final century, his first since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in June 2023, is his 10th in 41 innings against India, equaling Joe Root’s record achieved in 55 innings.

After scoring just 19 runs in three innings in the series, Smith was under pressure, starting poorly and surviving an LBW review when he failed to bowl a shot to Mohammed Siraj.

He spent almost all of his half-century on the leg side before gaining confidence and playing drives across the ground, through the covers and behind the pitch.

When he made his 33rd Test century, he improved from his half-century to a ton in just 57 balls, moving straight into second place on the Australian all-time list, eight behind Ricky Ponting.

Acceleration was also an important part of Head’s innings as the left-hander went from 20 at lunch to a century at tea break.

In the second half of his century there were only 44 balls that were particularly adaptable to whatever length was offered for pulling and overcutting to the boundary.

A third of Head’s Test centuries now come against India, which, combined with his match-winning 137 in last year’s 50-over World Cup final, earned him the nickname “Travis Headache” in India, according to former head coach Ravi Shastri’s TV coverage .