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Steve Smith Surpasses Virat Kohli; Sets Record For Most Away Test Centuries

Kaushik Kashyap

Steve Smith surpasses Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com] Steve Smith surpasses Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

In a significant development, Steve Smith has overtaken Indian batting star Virat Kohli in the list of highest number of away Test centuries. Yes, the veteran Australian batter has scored his 36th Test century in the ongoing second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle which officially made him surpass Kohli in terms of Test centuries away from home.

The ace batter has now scored 17 away Test centuries (which doesn't include Tests at neutral venues) compared to 16 for Kohli. Smith completed this achievement during the Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka by hitting a boundary off the bowling of Kamindu Mendis, completing his 7th Test ton in the subcontinent.

Is The Kohli vs Smith Debate Over ?

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are both considered among the greatest Test batters of this generation. The debate over who is better than whom has been a constant point of discussion amongst the cricket fans as the two batters have had terrific records in this format for their respective nations over the years.

Notably, both the veterans had some really tough time in the format in the last few years but in the recent past, Smith seems to have found his mojo back. Kohli did score a century in Perth in the First Test of the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy but failed to make any significant contribution with the bat in the rest of the series. 

Meanwhile, with four centuries in the last five matches, Smith is looking unstoppable at this moment especially since his return to form in the Gabba Test against India in December. With two centuries in the on-going two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, Smith now finds himself level with Brian Lara and Alastair Cook in the all time list of most away Test centuries.

In the Australian cricket point of view, Smith was previously level with Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, on 16 away Test centuries but now has surpassed both of them to become the first Test batter from Australia to hit 17 Test centuries away from home.

Smith also crossed the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket recently and with 36 centuries already in his name, the New South Wales cricketer is all set to take his Test Legacy to a whole new level. On the other hand, Kohli’s recent form in red-ball cricket doesn't show a big picture ahead of what has been a legendary career for the Delhi-born cricketer.