Steve Smith creates history in Melbourne, joins Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting

On Thursday, Australia batsman Steve Smith hit his 42nd Test half-century on the first day of the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He has joined the ranks of legends who have scored 10 or more 50s in Test matches at this venue. This feat was achieved only by former Australian batsmen Ricky Ponting, Don Bradman, and Greg Chappell.

Smith scored his 10th fifty-plus score in his 12th Test at the MCG, joining the greats of the game. Chappell leads the list with 13 fifty-plus scores in 17 Tests, while Bradman (12 in 11 Tests) and Ponting (11 in 15 Tests) also feature in the list. Smith, who completed his half-century off 71 balls in the final session, was unbeaten on 68 at stumps on day one, including five fours and a six.

The Australian batsmen made a strong case in the middle overs and managed 311/6 in 86 overs on day one. For Australia, 19-year-old debutant Sam Constask chipped in with 60 while Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne scored 57 and 72 runs respectively to give the home side the edge in the crucial encounter. Batting first, Australia skipper Pat Cummins returned unbeaten on eight and would look to continue his innings along with Smith on Friday.

For India, pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 3-75 in 21 overs while Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar picked up a wicket each. The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently tied at 1-1 after the third Test in Brisbane was drawn. India had won the first match of the series in Perth by 295 runs, while they suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat in the Pink Ball Test at the Adelaide Oval.