Steve Smith’s record against top cricket nations separates him from ordinary batsmen completely.
Some players score centuries against weak teams. They pad their statistics by beating Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Ireland repeatedly.
Smith doesn’t do that. His centuries come against cricket’s elite nations. England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Looking at Steve Smith centuries in all formats reveals fascinating patterns. He doesn’t just score, he dominates specific opponents.
England has suffered most. 11 Test centuries against them show their Ashes love affair. Those aren’t flat-track bullying either. They came on seaming English pitches.
India comes second. Steve Smith centuries against India in all formats total 12—9 Tests plus 3 ODIs. He built his reputation by destroying their world-class bowling.
His approach changes based on opponents. Against England, he grinds them down patiently. Against India, he plays more attacking cricket.
Quality of opposition matters hugely. Scoring centuries against peak Anderson-Broad-Stokes bowling means more than scoring against part-timers.
Smith’s Steve Smith stats prove he performs best against the toughest opponents. His average actually increases when facing top-ranked teams.
This separates all-time greats from good players. Great batsmen raise their game against great bowling. Smith does exactly that.
His technique suits challenging conditions. That unorthodox shuffle works brilliantly on seaming or turning pitches. Flat tracks don’t intimidate him either.
Steve Smith Test career statistics by opponent reveal consistent excellence. No obvious weaknesses. No team he avoids or fears.
At 35, Steve Smith retirement speculation surfaces occasionally. But his recent form against India and Sri Lanka suggests several quality years remain.
His opposition-specific approach shows tactical intelligence. He studies bowling attacks deeply. Identifies weaknesses. Exploits them ruthlessly.
Some centuries mean more than others. A hundred at Lord’s against England means more than one at home against the West Indies.
Smith understands this instinctively. His biggest scores come against the toughest opposition in the most challenging conditions.
Steve Smith Centuries In All Formats
This comprehensive breakdown examines his centuries by opponent. Which teams does he dominate? Which conditions suit him best? Which hundreds mattered most?
Opposition-Wise Century Count (All Formats): 2010-2025
| Opponent | Test Centuries | ODI Centuries | T20I Centuries | Total | Matches Played | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 31 Tests, 13 ODIs | 38.7% (Tests) |
| India | 9 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 26 Tests, 24 ODIs | 34.6% (Tests) |
| Pakistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11 Tests, 14 ODIs | 27.3% (Tests) |
| New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 16 Tests, 15 ODIs | 18.8% (Tests) |
| West Indies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 Tests, 11 ODIs | 23.1% (Tests) |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 Tests, 8 ODIs | 66.7% (Tests) |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 18 Tests, 19 ODIs | 16.7% (Tests) |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 Test, 4 ODIs | 0% |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 Tests, 3 ODIs | 0% |
Key Statistical Insights
- Sri Lanka dominance: 66.7% century rate (4 centuries in 6 Tests) shows complete mastery recently.
- England frequency: 11 Test centuries across 31 matches = one century every 2.8 matches. Exceptional consistency.
- India consistency: 9 Test centuries in 26 matches = one every 2.9 matches. Similar to the England rate.
- South Africa struggle: Only 16.7% century rate despite playing 18 Tests. His toughest opponent statistically.
- Bangladesh/Zimbabwe absence: Zero centuries against weaker teams because he’s played so few matches against them.
Centuries vs India: Ranked by Difficulty Level
- Steve Smith total Test centuries against India: 9 (highest against any opponent)
- ODI centuries vs India: 3
These 12 centuries built his reputation as India’s tormentor.
Test Centuries vs India (Difficulty Ranked)
| Rank | Score | Venue | Year | Difficulty Score (/100) | Why It’s Difficult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 178* | Ranchi | 2017 | 98.5 | Turning pitch, match-saving, unbeaten, away |
| 2 | 109 | Pune | 2017 | 94.2 | Raging turner, India dominant, away |
| 3 | 111 | Dharamsala | 2017 | 89.7 | India on top, series finale, away |
| 4 | 121 | The Oval | 2023 | 88.5 | WTC Final pressure, knockout stakes |
| 5 | 131 | Sydney | 2021 | 85.3 | Post-Adelaide collapse, saving draw |
| 6 | 192 | Melbourne | 2014 | 82.4 | Series clincher, quality attack |
| 7 | 162* | Adelaide | 2014 | 80.1 | Day-night Test, breakthrough series |
| 8 | 133 | Brisbane | 2014 | 77.8 | Early series momentum |
| 9 | 117 | Sydney | 2015 | 75.5 | Series sealer, comfortable win |
Why Ranchi 178* Ranks First?
This innings showcased everything that makes Smith great.
India was dominating. Australia faced defeat. The pitch was turning square.
Smith batted through day four completely. Remained unbeaten. Handled Jadeja, Ashwin, and Kuldeep brilliantly.
His footwork against spin was perfect. He used the crease intelligently. Never looked troubled.
This match-saving epic in India on a turning track represents his finest hour against them.
Pune 109: Second Toughest
The pitch was ridiculous. The ball is turning massively from day one.
India was expected to roll Australia easily. Smith scored 109 when nobody else managed 50.
Australia won by 333 runs despite the turner. Smith’s ton made the difference completely.
ODI Centuries vs India
| Score | Venue | Year | Match Situation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 131 | Bengaluru | 2020 | Comeback series post-ban | High |
| 149 | Perth | 2016 | High-scoring bilateral | Medium |
| 105 | Sydney | 2015 | World Cup quarter-final | Very High |
The World Cup century at Sydney carries the most weight. Knockout pressure. One mistake ends the tournament.
Smith scored 105, anchoring perfectly. Australia chased down India’s total comfortably.
Centuries vs England: Ashes Dominance Ranking
Smith has terrorized England throughout his career. 11 Test centuries prove his Ashes mastery.
All Test Centuries vs England (Impact Ranked)
| Rank | Score | Venue | Year | Impact Score | Match Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 239 | Perth | 2017 | 99.5 | Career-best, Ashes sealed |
| 2 | 211 | Old Trafford | 2019 | 98.2 | Post-ban redemption |
| 3 | 144 & 142 | Edgbaston | 2019 | 96.8 | Twin tons, comeback |
| 4 | 215 | Lord’s | 2015 | 95.4 | Double at headquarters |
| 5 | 143 | The Oval | 2015 | 91.7 | Ashes dominance continued |
| 6 | 141* | Brisbane | 2017 | 90.5 | Series opener setter |
| 7 | 102* | Melbourne | 2017 | 88.3 | Ashes clincher |
| 8 | 138* | The Oval | 2013 | 86.9 | Maiden century breakthrough |
| 9 | 111 | Perth | 2013 | 84.2 | Early Ashes contribution |
| 10 | 115 | Sydney | 2014 | 82.5 | Series finale |
| 11 | 110 | Lord’s | 2023 | 80.7 | Recent Ashes ton |
Why England Suffers Most?
- Ashes intensity: The rivalry brings out Smith’s absolute best. He thrives on Ashes pressure.
- Conditions suit him: English pitches offer seam movement. His technique handles this perfectly.
- Bowling quality: Anderson, Broad, Stokes, Archer—he’s faced England’s best and dominated them.
- Frequent meetings: More Tests against England than anyone else create familiarity and confidence.
The 2019 Ashes: Greatest Individual Series
Smith scored 774 runs at 110.57 average with three centuries.
He did this after a 12-month ban. Crowds booed mercilessly. The media scrutinized everything.
His response: three centuries and one 92. He carried Australia almost single-handedly.
England had no answers. They tried short balls, leg-side fields, and defensive tactics. Nothing worked.
This series performance ranks among cricket’s greatest individual achievements ever.
Centuries vs Pakistan
Smith has scored 5 total centuries against Pakistan—3 Tests and 2 ODIs.
Test Centuries vs Pakistan
| Score | Venue | Year | Conditions | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165* | Melbourne | 2016 | Flat pitch | Boxing Day dominance |
| 130 | Brisbane | 2016 | Seaming early | Series opener |
| (ODI) 108* | Perth | 2017 | Chasing pressure | Match-winner |
| (ODI) 101 | Sharjah | 2014 | First ODI century | Breakthrough |
Pakistan has decent bowling attacks. Yasir Shah troubled many batsmen on that tour.
But Smith handled spin comfortably. His 165* at Melbourne showed complete mastery.
The unbeaten century proved he could bat through an entire innings. Never gave his wicket away.
Centuries vs Sri Lanka
Smith’s recent Sri Lanka dominance is remarkable. 4 centuries in just 6 Tests.
All Test Centuries vs Sri Lanka
| Score | Venue | Year | Average in Series | Why He Dominated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | Galle | 2025 | 89.50 | Spin mastery |
| 131 | Galle | 2025 | 89.50 | Back-to-back tons |
| 145* | Galle | 2022 | 89.50 | Unbeaten brilliance |
| 119 | Colombo | 2016 | 89.50 | Away century |
His 89.50 average against Sri Lanka is his highest against any opponent.
Four centuries in six Tests = 66.7% century rate. Absolutely extraordinary.
Galle has become his happy hunting ground. Three centuries there in recent years.
Why does he dominate Sri Lanka?
- Spin conditions: Galle offers a turn. Smith’s technique against spin is exceptional.
- Quality decline: Sri Lanka’s bowling weakened after Herath’s retirement. Less challenging than peak India.
- Confidence: Early success bred more success. He plays for Sri Lanka with complete freedom.
- Footwork: His movement against spin is perfect. Uses crease brilliantly.
ODI Century List with Impact Analysis
Steve Smith ODI centuries total 12 across his limited-overs career.
Complete ODI Century List with Impact Scores
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year | Impact Score (/100) | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 164 | New Zealand | Sydney | 2016 | 94.2 | Won |
| 2 | 105 | India | Sydney | 2015 | 96.5 | Won (World Cup QF) |
| 3 | 149 | India | Perth | 2016 | 89.7 | Won |
| 4 | 131 | India | Bengaluru | 2020 | 92.8 | Won |
| 5 | 108* | Pakistan | Perth | 2017 | 88.5 | Won (chasing) |
| 6 | 102* | England | Hobart | 2015 | 91.4 | Won (final) |
| 7 | 108 | South Africa | Durban | 2016 | 85.3 | Won |
| 8 | 105 | New Zealand | Cairns | 2022 | 82.1 | Won |
| 9 | 105 | India | Sydney | 2020 | 84.7 | Won |
| 10 | 104 | India | Sydney | 2020 | 83.9 | Won |
| 11 | 104 | South Africa | Melbourne | 2014 | 86.2 | Won |
| 12 | 101 | Pakistan | Sharjah | 2014 | 80.5 | Won |
Critical Pattern: Centuries Equal Wins
When Smith scores ODI centuries, Australia wins 100% of the time. Every single one.
That’s a remarkable correlation. His centuries directly determine match outcomes.
Compare this to other batsmen whose centuries result in wins only 60-70% of the time.
Smith’s ODI hundreds come in winning causes because he paces innings perfectly.
He knows exactly what target Australia needs.
Top 5 Toughest Centuries Smith Has Scored
1. 178* vs India (Ranchi, 2017) – Difficulty: 98.5/100
Why it’s toughest: Raging turner. Match-saving. Away in India. Unbeaten. Faced Jadeja-Ashwin-Kuldeep.
Australia was losing. Smith batted through day four completely. Never looked troubled.
His footwork was perfect. Used crease brilliantly. Swept judiciously. Defended solidly.
This innings saved the Test and possibly the series. India couldn’t break through.
2. 211 vs England (Old Trafford, 2019) – Difficulty: 97.2/100
Why it’s toughest: Post-ban comeback. Hostile crowds are booing constantly. Must-perform pressure.
Smith returned after 12 months away. Media scrutiny was intense. Every ball analyzed.
He responded with a double century. Batted 10+ hours, showing incredible concentration.
England tried everything—short balls, defensive fields, sledging. Nothing worked.
3. 109 vs India (Pune, 2017) – Difficulty: 94.2/100
Why it’s toughest: Ridiculous turning pitch. Ball spinning square from day one.
India expected an easy win on their turn. Smith scored 109 when teammates struggled.
His technique suited the conditions perfectly. Played very late. Used soft hands.
Australia won by 333 runs, despite the turner—Smith’s century made a difference.
4. 239 vs England (Perth, 2017) – Difficulty: 93.8/100
Why it’s tough: Career-best requires immense concentration. Ashes pressure. Quality attack.
Smith batted for over 10 hours, maintaining perfect concentration throughout.
England tried everything. Anderson, Broad, and Woakes bowled brilliantly. He dominated them all.
This innings sealed the Ashes and established him as the era’s best Test batsman.
5. 215 vs England (Lord’s, 2015) – Difficulty: 91.5/100
Why it’s tough: Lord’s pressure. Cricket’s headquarters. English conditions. Quality bowling.
Scoring a double century at Lord’s means immortality. Your name on the honors board forever.
Smith handled challenging conditions perfectly. Anderson and Broad bowled well.
He dominated anyway, proving he belonged among cricket’s elite batsmen.
Why Smith Scores Big in the Subcontinent?
His record in Asia improved dramatically over his career. Initially struggled but adapted brilliantly.
Technical Adjustments He Made
Footwork refinement:
- Started using crease more actively against spin
- Goes deep in crease to spinners
- Comes forward decisively when needed
- Judges’ length is earlier than most
Sweep shot development:
- Added multiple sweep variations
- Uses paddle sweep effectively
- Reverse sweep for field manipulation
- Sweeps bring boundary options
Patience increases:
- Willing to defend for long periods
- Doesn’t force scoring on turning tracks
- Waits for loose balls
- Rotates strike intelligently
Reading spinners:
- Picks variations quickly
- Watch the hand closely
- Reads the length from the release
- Never looks hurried
Soft hands technique:
- Plays ball late with soft hands
- The ball drops dead near the crease
- Reduces the chances of bat-pad catches
- Handles sharp turns safely
His Asian Record Breakdown
| Country | Matches | Centuries | Average | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 6 Tests | 4 | 89.50 | Exceptional |
| India | 13 Tests | 6 | 61.47 | Excellent |
| UAE | 2 Tests | 1 | 58.23 | Good |
These numbers prove he conquered subcontinental challenges completely.
Why His Technique Works on Turning Tracks?
Smith’s unorthodox method actually suits spinning conditions better than conventional techniques.
Key Technical Elements for Spin
The shuffle advantage:
- Helps him get outside off-stump line
- Creates better angles for sweep shots
- Makes LBW decisions harder for umpires
- Gets him into perfect positions early
Deep crease usage:
- Goes deep to counter a sharp turn
- Gives extra time to judge the turn
- Makes good length balls short
- Allows powerful back-foot shots
Late playing:
- Plays ball as late as possible
- Adjusts to a sharp turn last moment
- Reduces the chances of edges
- Handles bounce variations better
Head position:
- Keeps head incredibly still
- Eyes level throughout
- Watches the ball onto the bat
- Perfect balance maintained
Foot placement:
- Plants front foot decisively
- Back foot anchored firmly
- Never reaches for the ball
- Plays within the hitting zone
Hand-eye coordination:
- Exceptional natural ability
- Adjusts to late turn
- Soft hands on defensive shots
- Strong hands on attacking shots
These technical elements combine perfectly for subcontinental conditions. His unorthodox method becomes an advantage for turners.
Conclusion:
Steve Smith centuries in all formats reveal fascinating opponent-specific patterns that showcase his adaptability.
England has suffered the most with 12 total centuries. His Ashes dominance is legendary. That 2019 series with 774 runs proved his greatness.
India comes close second with 12 centuries total. He built his reputation by destroying their world-class bowling attacks.
His Steve Smith Test career improved in Asia over time. Initially struggled but adapted brilliantly. Now averages 89.50 against Sri Lanka.
The quality of opposition matters hugely. His centuries come against cricket’s best teams in the toughest conditions.
His technique works everywhere. Seaming pitches. Turning tracks. Flat roads. He adapts and dominates.
At 35, speculation about Steve Smith retirement surfaces occasionally. But recent form suggests several quality years remain.
Those back-to-back centuries in Galle 2025 proved he’s far from finished. The hunger burns bright still.
His opposition analysis shows tactical intelligence. He studies attacks deeply. Identifies weaknesses. Exploits them ruthlessly.
Some batsmen pad statistics against weak teams. Smith does the opposite – performs best against the toughest opponents.
That separates all-time greats from good players. Great batsmen raise games against great bowling. Smith does exactly that consistently.
Steve Smith centuries in all formats will be remembered for coming when they mattered most—against the best opposition in the toughest conditions under maximum pressure.
His legacy as one of cricket’s finest batsmen is completely secure already. The numbers prove it. The opposition-specific dominance confirms it.
Whether he retires tomorrow or plays another five years doesn’t change anything. He’s already established himself among the all-time elite.
Future generations will study his innings against England, India, and others. They’ll marvel at how he dominated world-class attacks using that weird technique.
Steve Smith centuries in every format represent the highest level of batting excellence delivered consistently against cricket’s toughest challenges. That’s his lasting legacy.
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