Steve Smith's 100th Test: Best batting average and stagging numbers

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The third Ashes Test between England and Australia will be Steve Smith's 100th Test. Smith will enter his 100th in modern-day cricket with the best batting average, 59.56.

Before him, the highest average any batter had achieved going into the 100th Test was former India captain and current head coach Rahul Dravid with an average of 58.16.

Highest batting average after 99 Tests
Batter	Runs	Average	Hundreds
Steve Smith	9113	59.56	32
Rahul Dravid	8492	58.16	22
Sachin Tendulkar	8351	57.99	30
Javed Miandad	7549	56.76	21
Jacques Kallis	7840	56.4	24
Ricky Ponting	7990	56.27	26
Kumar Sangakkara	8572	55.66	25

 

(Source: ESPNcricinfo.com)

34-year-old Smith is known for his pre-ball manoeuvres, making him prone to getting caught on the crease. But the modern-day great hardly gets out leg before the wicket.
 

In 175 outings in Test, he was trapped in front of the wicket only 26 times. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has been got out 40 times in 185 innings.

Steve Smith's career in different periods

Smith started his Test career as a leg-spinner and usually batted at number 8 and 9. Till 2013, he managed to score 970 runs in 16 games at an average of 34.64. But after realising the batting potential, Smith's numbers improved significantly.

During the 2014 to 2019 period, he averaged 6194 runs in 56 games at a staggering average of 72.02, notching up 24 centuries.

Despite a lack of form from 2020 onwards, Smith piled up runs at an average of around 50 (49.97).

SMITH'S TEST CAREER
Period	Tests	Runs	Average	Hundreds
Till 2013	16	970	34.64	2
2014 to 2019	59	6194	72.02	24
2020 Onwards	27	1949	49.97	6

(Source: ESPNcricinfo.com)

Smith conquers all conditions

Smith has not only scored runs in home conditions but has been exceptional in the away conditions, accumulating runs in swinging, seaming and spinning conditions. That is why even King Kohli termed him the "best Test batsman of this generation".

Smith's average in away conditions
Country	Average
England	61.82
India	50.32
New Zealand	31

(Source: Indianexpress.com)

Overall: Highest batting average in Away tests
Player	Matches	Runs	Average	Hundreds
WR Hammond	41	4245	66.32	13
A Border	70	5431	56.57	14
S Smith	51	4726	55.6	16
S Waugh	79	5217	55.5	17
AB de Villiers	48	3977	55.23	9
G Smith	56	5279	54.98	17
S Tendulkar	106	8705	54.74	29

(Source:ESPNcricinfo.com)

Steve Smith's career record, Test, ODI and T20Is centuries

Batting Career Summary
Format	Matches	Innings	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	Ball Faced	SR	100	200	50	4s	6s
Test	99	175	22	9113	239	59.56	16945	53.78	32	4	37	1004	50
ODI	142	126	15	4939	164	44.5	5643	87.52	12	0	29	435	47
T20I	63	51	11	1008	90	25.2	805	125.22	0	0	4	85	24
IPL	103	93	21	2485	101	34.51	1940	128.09	1	0	11	225	60