“Class is permanent” - Twitter in awe as Steve Smith notches up stunning hundred

Steve Smith roared back to form with an outstanding hundred against India at Sydney. The Aussie batsman reached his 27th Test century in the 98th over on Day 2 of the match. It was Steve Smith’s first Test century in 17 months and 15 innings, as the classy batsman finally ended his drought.

The Australian reached his century in 201 balls. Steve Smith’s gutsy knock also included 13 fours. It was his 8th century against India, as Smith equalled Ricky Ponting’s record of scoring the most Test tons against the country.

Steve Smith had come into the 3rd Test with his back against the wall. Australia’s No.4 had scored just 10 runs across the first two Tests, as Steve Smith admitted to his struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin.

But since he came in to bat on Day 1 of the Sydney Test, Steve Smith has looked assured at the crease. He was aggressive from the start, as he attacked the Indian bowlers.

Unlike the first two Tests, Steve Smith looked more confident early on, dealing in boundaries right from the start. The end result was a dominating display of batting, with Steve Smith not allowing the Indian bowlers to get the better of him.

The moment @stevesmith49 brought up his 27th Test century! @VodafoneAU | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/C7n447qoFT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2021

Steve Smith then settled into his role as the innings went on. His hundred was a perfect balance of calm and aggression. Smith played the Indian bowlers with respect, cautiously getting through India’s leg side trap which has proven to be his downfall in recent weeks.

It was Steve Smith’s fifth slowest hundred, with a lot of patience shown by the batsman as he came out of a tough period with flying colours.

After Steve Smith reached his ton, Twitter erupted in praise for the batsman. Many applauded Steve Smith’s perseverance, as they referred to his sublime record against India.

Others hilariously suggested that Steve Smith’s wife Dani Willis is the reason behind his return to form. Notably, the couple were reunited with each other after spending months away due to bio-bubble restrictions. Several others compared Steve Smith to Australian legend Don Bradman, as they celebrated his great knock.

Twitter heaps praise on Steve Smith after a classy ton

As Steve Smith wildly celebrated an iconic knock, here are the best reactions from Twitter.

Fewest inns to 27 Test hundreds Bradman 70STEVE SMITH 136Kohli 141Tendulkar 141Gavaskar 154Hayden 157 #AUSvIND

— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 8, 2021

Can't keep a big player down for too long. Well batted Steve Smith! 👏👏 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lqEDld91Zx

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 8, 2021

🏏 You can’t keep the great, Steve Smith down for long. Test century number 27 and some sublime batting when Australia needed it. The best Australian batsman I’ve seen (didn’t see Bradman of course!). Something to celebrate on an otherwise disappointing second day so far.

— brad davidson (@braddavo) January 8, 2021

This hundred must feel a lot sweeter to Steve Smith, like being reunited with a dear one who'd gone missing #INDvsAUS

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) January 8, 2021

Steve Smith reunited with wife Dani on New Year’s eve after 129 days apart. That is a lot of lonely nights in bed. Eight days on and Smith becomes the first Australian to score a century against India on home soil in six years. Probably fair to connect those dots. #AUSvIND

— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) January 8, 2021

Steve Smith has hit 34% of his international centuries against India. He just loves batting against India.#AUSvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 8, 2021

That's greatness ...Steve Smith 👏👏👏#AUSvIND

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) January 8, 2021

Tough times never last but tough people do. Steve Smith is back to where he belongs....among the runs. He was the last Australian to score a test century against India...and he’s broken that 2+ year jinx again. Incidentally his third century vs India on this tour...all at Sydney.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 8, 2021

The drought is broken!After an interval of 17 months and 15 innings, Steve Smith is a Test centurion once more.He's back!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xfpG8WjXbn

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 8, 2021

8 - Steve Smith has scored his eighth Test century against India, the joint-most of any Australian in the format alongside Ricky Ponting; it's Smith's 27th century overall, drawing him level with Allan Border for the sixth most of any Australian. Beacon. pic.twitter.com/os2xWzkwCd

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) January 8, 2021

Coming from 201 deliveries, that is Steve Smith's fifth slowest Test century in terms of deliveries. #AUSvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 8, 2021