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Steven Smith breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s 18-year-old record, becomes third fastest to 22 Test centuries

Steven Smith seems to have hit a purple patch as he scored his second century in the ongoing Ashes 2017-18 Test series

Steven Smith smashes his another century in Ashes 2017-18 and became the third fastest batsman to 22 Test centuries in terms of innings taken. Smith took just 108 innings to 22 Test centuries and went past India’s legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar who achieved this feat in 114 innings. Smith (105 innings) recently went past Tendulkar’s record (110 innings) by becoming the third fastest to 21 Test centuries with a century in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane.

Here are the top four players in the list of fastest to 22 Test centuries –

Player name    (No. of innings)

Don Bradman          58
Sunil Gavaskar        101
Steven Smith           108
Sachin Tendulkar   114

ALSO READ: Steven Smith survives a meaty blow to the head, still manages to save his wicket — WATCH

Smith also reached new heights after his resilient century. Here is the list of 9 fastest Australia batsman to 22 Test centuries in number of Tests played –

Player name    (No. of Tests)

Don Bradman         38
Steven Smith           59
Mathew Hayden     73
Greg Chappell         79
Michael Clarke       88
Ricky Ponting         88
Allan Border           91
Justin Langer         93
Steve Waugh         127

Here’s how the 28-year-old reached his century and acknowledged the crowd –

Steven Peter Devereux Smith. Can bat.#Ashes #MagellanMilestones pic.twitter.com/vwToKN00X3

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2017

ALSO READ: Steven Smith admits taking a ‘sleeping pill’ before Day 5 of Adelaide Test & the reason will shock you! — WATCH

Smith’s innings has taken Australia to a comfortable situation in the first innings in the Perth Test. Wickets have fallen from the other end but Smith has managed to hold on to his end simultaneously scoring at a brisk rate.

The Australian skipper is heading towards his second Test double century. He has been able to use the bounce at the WACA, Perth against the bowlers. He needs to stay there if Australia are to take a lead in the third Test.