Steve Smith’s transformation from bowling all-rounder to batting superstar is one of cricket’s most remarkable evolution stories.
He entered international cricket in 2010 as a leg-spinner who could bat a bit. His bowling was handy. His batting looked awkward and unorthodox.
Nobody predicted he’d become one of the greatest Test batsmen of all time.
That transformation didn’t happen overnight. It took patience, persistence, and complete technical reinvention.
His early years were frustrating. He batted down the order, averaging mid-30s. Teams valued his leg-spin more than his batting initially.
The turning point came in 2013. That maiden Test century at The Oval changed everything. Suddenly, people saw him differently.
His unorthodox technique became a strength, not a weakness. That exaggerated shuffle across the crease looked weird but worked brilliantly.
From 2014 onwards, he absolutely exploded. Five Test centuries in 2014 alone established him as Australia’s main batsman.
By 2015, he was arguably the world’s best Test batsman. The consistency was extraordinary—century after century in every condition.
The 2018 ball-tampering ban interrupted his prime cruelly. He lost 12 months of international cricket during his peak years.
His 2019 comeback was legendary. That Ashes series proved his mental strength completely. 774 runs with three centuries silenced every critic.
Recent years show he’s still got it. Back-to-back centuries in late 2024 and early 2025 proved Steve Smith age (35) isn’t slowing him down yet.
Steve Smith centuries in all formats total 48 now—36 in Tests, 12 in ODIs, zero in T20Is. Each century tells a story of resilience, adaptation, and hunger.
His Steve Smith Test career statistics are staggering: 10,557 runs at 55.86 average across 121 matches. That places him among cricket’s all-time elite.
Steve Smith retirement speculation surfaces occasionally, but his recent form suggests several quality years remain. He’s targeting the 2025-26 Ashes in England as a potential farewell.
Steve Smith Centuries In All Formats
Let’s journey through his century timeline chronologically, examining how each phase shaped his legacy.
Career Stats: 2010–2025
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | 200s | Strike Rate |
| Tests | 121 | 224 | 10,557 | 55.86 | 239 | 36 | 44 | 4 | 52.8 |
| ODIs | 170 | 159 | 5,800 | 43.28 | 164 | 12 | 35 | 0 | 87.8 |
| T20Is | 67 | 62 | 1,094 | 24.86 | 90 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 123.4 |
| Overall | 358 | 445 | 17,451 | 44.73 | 239 | 48 | 84 | 4 | 65.3 |
Milestones & Key Stats
- Debut Year: 2010 (ODI vs West Indies, Test vs Pakistan)
- First Century: 2013 (Test vs England at The Oval)
- Peak Year: 2015 (5 Test centuries, 2 ODI centuries)
- Fastest to 8,000 Test runs: 151 innings (world record)
- Test Captaincy Average: 70.36 (highest in history for 40+ innings)
2013–2014: Rise of a Test Giant
This period marked Smith’s transformation from promising all-rounder to Test batting star.
The Breakthrough: 2013
138 vs England (The Oval, August 21, 2013)*
His maiden Test century came in the perfect setting—The Oval during an Ashes series.
England had dominated the series. Australia was struggling badly. Smith walked in with pressure mounting.
He batted with incredible maturity. That unbeaten 138 showcased defensive solidity mixed with attacking flair.
The innings didn’t save the series, but it saved Smith’s Test career. Suddenly, he wasn’t just a leg-spinner anymore.
The Explosion: 2014
Smith scored five Test centuries in 2014—announcing his arrival emphatically.
| Century No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Match Situation |
| 2 | 111 | England | Perth | Dec 13, 2013 | Series leveler |
| 3 | 115 | England | Sydney | Jan 3, 2014 | Series clincher |
| 4 | 100 | South Africa | Centurion | Feb 12, 2014 | Away dominance |
| 5 | 162* | India | Adelaide | Dec 9, 2014 | Match-winner |
| 6 | 133 | India | Brisbane | Dec 17, 2014 | Series momentum |
| 7 | 192 | India | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2014 | Breakthrough big score |
| 8 | 117 | India | Sydney | Jan 6, 2015 | Series sealer |
The India series was transformational. Four centuries in four Tests established complete dominance.
His 192 at Melbourne was particularly special—first really big score proving he could convert starts into massive totals.
First ODI Century: October 7, 2014
101 vs Pakistan in Sharjah marked his ODI breakthrough. Until then, he’d struggled in limited-overs cricket.
This century proved he could adapt to faster-paced formats. His ODI career took off from here.
2015 – 2017: Peak Years & Big Ashes Runs
This three-year period represents Smith’s absolute peak—26 Test centuries across 60 matches.
2015: Establishing World Dominance
Smith scored five more Test centuries, including his first double hundred.
| Century No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Significance |
| 9 | 199 | West Indies | Kingston | Jun 11, 2015 | Just missed double |
| 10 | 215 | England | Lord’s | Jul 16, 2015 | Lord’s honors board |
| 11 | 143 | England | The Oval | Aug 20, 2015 | Ashes dominance |
| 12 | 138 | New Zealand | Perth | Nov 13, 2015 | Home fortress |
| 13 | 134* | West Indies | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2015 | Boxing Day ton |
His 215 at Lord’s was career-defining. Scoring a double century at cricket’s headquarters established him among the elite.
That 199 in Kingston was agonizing—run out one short of a double hundred. Still, it showed his ability to dominate anywhere.
ODI Breakthroughs
Three ODI centuries in 2015 proved his limited-overs evolution:
- 102* vs England (Hobart)
- 105 vs India (Sydney, World Cup)
- 149 vs India (Perth)
2016: Year of Big Scores
Smith continued his relentless scoring across formats.
Test Centuries:
- 138 vs New Zealand (Christchurch)
- 119 vs Sri Lanka (Colombo)
- 130 vs Pakistan (Brisbane)
- 165* vs Pakistan (Melbourne)
ODI Milestone: 164 vs New Zealand (Sydney, December 4, 2016)
This remains his highest ODI score. Complete batting masterclass showcasing every shot in the book.
2017: Absolute Peak Before the Ban
Smith’s final full year before the ban was extraordinary – five Test centuries, including his career-best.
| Century No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Impact |
| 18 | 109 | India | Pune | Feb 23, 2017 | Away century |
| 19 | 178* | India | Ranchi | Mar 16, 2017 | Match-saver |
| 20 | 111 | India | Dharamsala | Mar 25, 2017 | Series contribution |
| 21 | 141* | England | Brisbane | Nov 23, 2017 | Ashes opener |
| 22 | 239 | England | Perth | Dec 14, 2017 | Career-best |
| 23 | 102* | England | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2017 | Ashes sealer |
239 vs England at Perth remains his career-defining innings. Batted over 10 hours, showing incredible concentration.
That innings demolished England’s spirit completely. The Ashes were sealed with Smith scoring 687 runs that series at 137.40 average.
2018–2021: Ban, Return & Redemption
2018: The Lost Year
No centuries. No cricket. The ball-tampering ban removed him from international cricket entirely.
This period could have ended careers. Instead, it fueled his comeback fire.
2019: Legendary Ashes Comeback
Smith returned from his ban with one of cricket’s greatest redemption stories.
| Century No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Context |
| 24 | 144 | England | Edgbaston | Aug 1, 2019 | First innings back |
| 25 | 142 | England | Edgbaston | Aug 1, 2019 | Twin hundreds |
| 26 | 211 | England | Old Trafford | Sep 4, 2019 | Redemption complete |
Crowds booed him mercilessly. The media scrutinized every move. Pressure was immense.
He responded with 774 runs at 110.57 average—one of the greatest Ashes series performances ever.
Those twin centuries at Edgbaston announced his return emphatically. The 211 at Old Trafford sealed it.
2020-2021: Pandemic Cricket
Limited cricket due to COVID, but Smith still contributed crucial tons.
131 vs India (Sydney, January 7, 2021) helped Australia draw the series after Adelaide’s collapse.
ODI Hat-trick vs India (November 2020):
- 105 (Sydney)
- 104 (Sydney)
- 131 (Bengaluru)
Three consecutive ODI centuries showcased his limited-overs mastery.
2022–2025: Veteran Era & Continued Excellence
Many predicted a decline after his 33rd birthday. Smith proved them wrong emphatically.
2022: Return to Form
- 200 vs West Indies (Perth, November 30, 2022)*
First Test century after a long drought silenced critics completely. Showed he wasn’t finished yet.
- 145 vs Sri Lanka (Galle, January 8, 2022)*
Unbeaten century in Asia proved he’d conquered previously challenging conditions.
2023: World Test Championship & Ashes
Two crucial centuries maintained his standards.
- 121 vs India (The Oval, June 7, 2023) in the WTC Final helped Australia win its maiden title.
- 110 vs England (Lord’s, June 28, 2023) continued his Ashes love affair.
2024: Back-to-Back Brilliance
- 101 vs India (Brisbane, December 14, 2024)
- 140 vs India (Melbourne, December 26, 2024)
These back-to-back centuries proved Smith’s class remains intact at 35.
2025: Galle Mastery
- 141 vs Sri Lanka (Galle, January 29, 2025)
- 131 vs Sri Lanka (Galle, February 6, 2025)
Consecutive tons at Galle showcased his evolution on Asian pitches.
Complete Test Centuries List (36 Total)
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Year |
| 1 | 138* | England | The Oval | Aug 21, 2013 | 2013 |
| 2 | 111 | England | Perth | Dec 13, 2013 | 2013 |
| 3 | 115 | England | Sydney | Jan 3, 2014 | 2014 |
| 4 | 100 | South Africa | Centurion | Feb 12, 2014 | 2014 |
| 5 | 162* | India | Adelaide | Dec 9, 2014 | 2014 |
| 6 | 133 | India | Brisbane | Dec 17, 2014 | 2014 |
| 7 | 192 | India | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2014 | 2014 |
| 8 | 117 | India | Sydney | Jan 6, 2015 | 2015 |
| 9 | 199 | West Indies | Kingston | Jun 11, 2015 | 2015 |
| 10 | 215 | England | Lord’s | Jul 16, 2015 | 2015 |
| 11 | 143 | England | The Oval | Aug 20, 2015 | 2015 |
| 12 | 138 | New Zealand | Perth | Nov 13, 2015 | 2015 |
| 13 | 134* | West Indies | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2015 | 2015 |
| 14 | 138 | New Zealand | Christchurch | Feb 20, 2016 | 2016 |
| 15 | 119 | Sri Lanka | Colombo | Aug 15, 2016 | 2016 |
| 16 | 130 | Pakistan | Brisbane | Dec 15, 2016 | 2016 |
| 17 | 165* | Pakistan | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2016 | 2016 |
| 18 | 109 | India | Pune | Feb 23, 2017 | 2017 |
| 19 | 178* | India | Ranchi | Mar 16, 2017 | 2017 |
| 20 | 111 | India | Dharamsala | Mar 25, 2017 | 2017 |
| 21 | 141* | England | Brisbane | Nov 23, 2017 | 2017 |
| 22 | 239 | England | Perth | Dec 14, 2017 | 2017 |
| 23 | 102* | England | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2017 | 2017 |
| 24 | 144 | England | Edgbaston | Aug 1, 2019 | 2019 |
| 25 | 142 | England | Edgbaston | Aug 1, 2019 | 2019 |
| 26 | 211 | England | Old Trafford | Sep 4, 2019 | 2019 |
| 27 | 131 | India | Sydney | Jan 7, 2021 | 2021 |
| 28 | 145* | Sri Lanka | Galle | Jan 8, 2022 | 2022 |
| 29 | 200* | West Indies | Perth | Nov 30, 2022 | 2022 |
| 30 | 104 | South Africa | Sydney | Jan 4, 2023 | 2023 |
| 31 | 121 | India | The Oval | Jun 7, 2023 | 2023 |
| 32 | 110 | England | Lord’s | Jun 28, 2023 | 2023 |
| 33 | 101 | India | Brisbane | Dec 14, 2024 | 2024 |
| 34 | 140 | India | Melbourne | Dec 26, 2024 | 2024 |
| 35 | 141 | Sri Lanka | Galle | Jan 29, 2025 | 2025 |
| 36 | 131 | Sri Lanka | Galle | Feb 6, 2025 | 2025 |
Steve Smith total Test centuries of 36 places him 6th on the all-time list.
Complete ODI Centuries List (12 Total)
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date | Year | Match Situation |
| 1 | 101 | Pakistan | Sharjah | Oct 7, 2014 | 2014 | Breakthrough |
| 2 | 104 | South Africa | Melbourne | Nov 21, 2014 | 2014 | Home success |
| 3 | 102* | England | Hobart | Jan 23, 2015 | 2015 | Tri-series |
| 4 | 105 | India | Sydney | Mar 26, 2015 | 2015 | World Cup |
| 5 | 149 | India | Perth | Jan 12, 2016 | 2016 | Dominant |
| 6 | 108 | South Africa | Durban | Oct 5, 2016 | 2016 | Away ton |
| 7 | 164 | New Zealand | Sydney | Dec 4, 2016 | 2016 | Career-best |
| 8 | 108* | Pakistan | Perth | Jan 19, 2017 | 2017 | Chasing |
| 9 | 131 | India | Bengaluru | Jan 19, 2020 | 2020 | Return |
| 10 | 105 | India | Sydney | Nov 27, 2020 | 2020 | Consecutive |
| 11 | 104 | India | Sydney | Nov 29, 2020 | 2020 | Hat-trick |
| 12 | 105 | New Zealand | Cairns | Sep 11, 2022 | 2022 | Recent form |
Steve Smith ODI centuries show his evolution in limited-overs cricket from struggling beginner to reliable match-winner.
Steve Smith Centuries vs India (All Formats)
Steve Smith centuries against India in all formats total 12 – 9 in Tests, 3 in ODIs.
Test Centuries vs India (9 Total)
| Score | Venue | Year | Match Context |
| 162* | Adelaide | 2014 | Series dominance begins |
| 133 | Brisbane | 2014 | Continued momentum |
| 192 | Melbourne | 2014 | Big score breakthrough |
| 117 | Sydney | 2015 | Series sealer |
| 109 | Pune | 2017 | Away century |
| 178* | Ranchi | 2017 | Match-saving epic |
| 111 | Dharamsala | 2017 | Series contribution |
| 131 | Sydney | 2021 | Border-Gavaskar heroics |
| 121 | The Oval | 2023 | WTC Final |
ODI Centuries vs India (3 Total)
| Score | Venue | Year | Significance |
| 105 | Sydney | 2015 | World Cup quarter-final |
| 149 | Perth | 2016 | Highest vs India |
| 131 | Bengaluru | 2020 | Comeback series |
India has been his favorite opponent, clearly. The rivalry brings out his best consistently.
Top 5 Most Important Steve Smith Centuries
1. 239 vs England (Perth, 2017)
Why it ranks first: Career-defining innings establishing him as the era’s best Test batsman.
Batted over 10 hours with complete control. Every shot was perfectly executed.
This innings sealed the Ashes and cemented his legacy. Many consider it the perfect Test innings.
2. 211 vs England (Old Trafford, 2019)
Why it’s crucial: Ultimate redemption after ball-tampering ban.
Scored under intense pressure with hostile crowds. Mental strength is on full display.
This innings proved he could handle adversity and return stronger. Defined his character completely.
3. 178* vs India (Ranchi, 2017)
Why it matters: Match-saving masterclass on turning pitch in India.
India was dominating. Australia faced defeat. Smith batted through day four unbeaten.
Handled world-class spin brilliantly. Showed he could succeed anywhere against anyone.
4. 215 vs England (Lord’s, 2015)
Why it’s special: Double century at cricket’s headquarters.
Lord’s honors board represents cricket immortality. Smith joined that elite club.
Scored against a quality attack on a challenging surface. He established himself among the greats.
5. 138* vs England (The Oval, 2013)
Why it’s foundational: The century that changed everything.
His maiden Test hundred transformed him from an all-rounder to a batting specialist.
Without this innings, his entire career trajectory might have been different.
Conclusion:
Steve Smith centuries in all formats represent one of modern cricket’s most remarkable batting journeys.
His transformation from leg-spinning all-rounder to batting superstar defied all predictions.
That evolution required complete technical reinvention and unwavering self-belief.
The numbers speak for themselves. 48 international centuries. 10,557 Test runs at 55.86. Rankings among cricket’s all-time elite.
But statistics don’t capture his full impact. Smith changed how we think about batting technique.
His unorthodox style proved that textbooks aren’t everything. Success comes from maximizing your unique strengths, not conforming to conventional methods.
The 2018 ban could have ended his career. Instead, it fueled an incredible comeback that showcased his mental strength.
That 2019 Ashes series—774 runs while crowds booed constantly—stands among cricket’s greatest individual performances ever.
Recent form proves he’s not finished yet. Those back-to-back centuries in late 2024 and early 2025 showed his hunger remains.
Steve Smith stats will continue improving for several more years. He’s targeting 45+ Test centuries and 12,000+ Test runs.
The 2025-26 Ashes in England might be his farewell series. What perfect symmetry—ending where his Ashes legend began.
Whether he retires in 2026 or 2028, his legacy is secure. Future generations will study his innings, marveling at how someone so unorthodox became so unstoppable.
Steve Smith centuries in all formats will be remembered as masterclasses in resilience, adaptation, and unwavering self-belief that transformed an awkward leg-spinner into one of cricket’s all-time batting greats.
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