Steve Smith Surpasses Don Bradman to Set New Record for Centuries Against England

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Australian batsman Steve Smith is now the second-highest run-scorer in Ashes history. He just surpassed England legend Sir Jack Hobbs during a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On 6 January 2026, Smith scored 129 runs not out against England.

He now has 3,682 runs in total against England. The cricketer now holds the second spot only behind Sir Donald Bradman, who boasts 5,028 runs. This was Smith's 37th Test century, and it helped Australia take a lead of 134 runs.

The Master of Sydney: Steve Smith Silences the Critics

Steve Smith showed why he is a champion during the final 2025–26 Ashes Test. Some people thought he was losing his touch before this game. He only had one big score in the first four matches. However, everything changed when he returned to his home ground in Sydney. Smith faced 205 balls to score his 13th Ashes century. This moved him ahead of Jack Hobbs on the all-time list. Now, only Bradman stands above him in Ashes history.

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The fans in Sydney were very excited to watch Smith play. He was also the captain for this game as Pat Cummins was injured. Smith played very carefully and tired out the English bowlers. He had an outstanding partnership with Travis Head, who scored 163 runs. Together, they made Australia look very strong. This performance proves that even at the age of 36, Steve Smith still wants to score as many runs as possible.

Can Steve Smith Bridge the 1,346-Run Gap?

Fans now have one big question: Can Steve Smith actually catch Don Bradman? Smith needs 1,346 more runs to beat Bradman’s record. This will be very hard to do. He would need to play in the 2027 Ashes tour and possibly even more games in 2029. He must keep scoring runs at a very fast pace for several more years.

This goal is important for the future of Cricket in Australia, as many older players are leaving the team soon. Usman Khawaja is retiring after this game, which puts significant responsibility on Smith’s shoulders to lead the younger players.

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Smith has reportedly said that he will keep playing through 2026, especially against Bangladesh and South Africa. It will be a huge test of his body and mind. If he stays in form until 2028, he might finally break the record that everyone assumed was impossible.