Ashes Stats: Steve Smith sends records tumbling at the WACA

By Benedict Bermange, Cricket Statistician

Image: Steve Smith bats during day three of the third Ashes Test

Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh sent records tumbling on day three of the third Ashes Test at the WACA. Sky Sports statistician Benedict Bermange reveals the numbers behind Australia's formidable day...

SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED

Steve Smith scored his third Test century at the WACA, putting him level with David Warner for the most centuries at the ground.

Smith's century is his fastest in Test cricket:

Smith's fastest hundreds...

Balls Against Venue Year
138 England Perth 2017
140 New Zealand Perth 2015
142 England Sydney 2014
147 India Brisbane 2014

When he reached 112, Smith completed 1000 Test runs in four successive calendar years. He is just the second man to achieve that:

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1000 Test runs in four consecutive years...

Number Player Year
5 Matthew Hayden 2001-2005
4 Steve Smith 2014-2017
3 Brian Lara 2003-2005
3 Marcus Trescothick 2003-2005
3 Kevin Pietersen 2006-2008

Smith has scored 18 centuries in his last 37 Tests. Only Don Bradman - with 22 - has scored more centuries in a span of 37 Tests. Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar both managed 17 centuries in that same period in purple patches in their careers.

Image: Smith celebrates after reaching his double century

Smith set a new record for the highest score in an Ashes Test at the WACA, going past Ian Redpath's 171 in the 1970/71 season.

Also See:

Highest score in an Ashes Test at the WACA

Score Name Team Against Season
229* SPD Smith Australia England 2017/8
171 IR Redpath Australia England 1970/71
162 BC Broad England India 1986/87

He also achieved the highest score by a Test captain at the WACA...

Highest Test score by a Test captain at the WACA

Score Name Team Against Season
229* SPD Smith Australia England 2017/18
176 RB Simpson Australia India 1977/78
149 CH Lloyd West Indies Australia 1975/76
146 IVA Richards West Indies Australia 1988/89
138 SPD Smith Australia New Zealand 2015/16

Smith became the fourth player to score multiple Ashes double-centuries...

  • Donald Bradman - 8
  • Walter Hammond - 4
  • Bobby Simpson - 2
  • Steve Smith - 2

Smith surpassed his career-best score for the ninth time - 1, 12, 77, 92, 138*, 162*, 192, 199, 215, 229*.

Only Damien Martyn (10 occasions) has done that more times for Australia. Virat Kohli holds the overall record with 14 times.

One possible good omen for England... 229 is the lowest Test score never made. Smith is 229 not out overnight!

Image: Mitchell Marsh celebrates his century with Smith

That is one positive omen for England!!!

With Mitchell Marsh's maiden Test century, the Marsh family now has 10 Test hundreds...

  • Geoff - 4
  • Shaun - 5
  • Mitchell - 1.

They are the second family consisting of a father and two sons to make Test centuries after the Amarnaths, who shared 13 Test centuries...

  • Lala - 1
  • Surinder - 1
  • Mohinder - 11.

All three Marshs have now been involved in partnerships of at least 300 runs in Test cricket.

“It will feel very much like the end.” Michael Atherton says England have trudged off in Perth knowing their Ashes hopes are fading fast.

The last six centuries batting at number six in the order for Australia have been hit by six different batsmen...

  • Mitchell Marsh
  • Shaun Marsh
  • Glenn Maxwell
  • Steve Smith
  • Matthew Wade
  • Mike Hussey

Marsh has so far made the third-highest individual score by a number six in an Ashes Test...

Highest individual score by a number six in an Ashes Test

Score Name Team Against Venue Season
234 DG Bradman Australia England Sydney 1946/47
201 SE Greogory Australia England Sydney 1894/95
181* MR Marsh Australia England Perth 2017/18

His last ten innings in Test cricket had totalled 181 runs. This innings has realised 181 runs.

This Test is only the second in Ashes history in which there have been two partnerships of at least 150 for the fifth wicket, after the Oval Test in 1961.

This Test is also just the third in history to boast two double-century stands for the fifth wicket...

  • West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 2009
  • Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, Galle, 2013
  • Australia v England at Perth, 2017
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