Robert Craddock examines Steve Smith’s 34th Test century at the MCG against India

Only a few weeks ago, serious questions were being asked about whether Steve Smith’s time as a Test batter was about to end. But as ROBERT CRADDOCK writes, this is a renaissance the Aussie No. 4 knew was coming.

The first voice to call Steve Smith’s comeback was the man himself – when there was barely anyone listening.

Smith has a habit of critiquing his own work in the nets and before this summer was overhead by Newscorp’s netwatching guru Bharat Sundaresan dropping lines like “I’m back’’, “that will make a great photo’’ and “what a shot’’ as his confidence swelled after some tough years.

In this quirky way Smith is a bit like West Indian cult figure Carlisle Best who went a step further and commentated his innings during major matches with lines like “you don’t bowl there to Carlisle Best.’’

What would cricket be without stars who bring different gravy to our sanitised world?

Smith is back. Maybe not to his rip-roaring days between 2014-17 when his bat was as wide as a barn door and he averaged over 70 four years in a row.

Steve Smith hooks a ball for six. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Smith salutes the MCG crowd after reaching triple figures.

But two centuries in a row is a massive achievement. He looks fluent again. The chains of anxiety have been snapped.

Older players sometimes steal a century from nowhere when the juices flow. But two is a sign that some of the old magic is still there. Smith looks free again. Maybe Sam Konstas has shown the way to a brighter world.

Smith’s intense, emotional stare, complete with raised arms and kissed helmet, after reaching three figures was more tension relieving than celebratory.

WIth freedom came adventure. There was a lap shot over his shoulder for four off Washington Sundar, two hooked sixes off the fast men and any number of technique-challenging “eye’’ shots which are a Smith trademark.

After posting a century he walked down the wicket and swatted a short ball from Mohammed Siraj to the cover fence, evidence that in selected moments he is seeing the ball like a water melon again.

Had he been commentating on that shot in the nets pre-season he might have called “that’s just contemptuous’’ because it was.

Smith’s 11 Test tons against India – in just 23 Tests – are more than any other player against that nation.

His return to form is particularly galling for India because they had him under their thumb in the opening Tests with a clever little game plan in which they bowled straight to him and cut off the off-side.

It cut his wings for several series but in the last two Tests he has countered it with a bold plan, going as far out of his crease as he ever has in his career against India’s fast men.

And India were rattled by it. Their radar scrambled. Their lines and lengths became muddled and eventually they became haunted by the man who has haunted them so many times before.

CricViz stats reveal that the interception point of Smith versus India in this innings was further out of his crease for any Test innings he has faced of more than 30 balls. Fortune has favored the brave and ensured he will end his career when he wants to.

Originally published as Robert Craddock examines Steve Smith’s 34th Test century at the MCG against India