Steve Smith has built his Test career around one defining trait: the ability to find a way to score when conditions, pressure and opposition plans all seem to be working against him.
His technique is unconventional, but its effectiveness is beyond question. From his back-and-across movement to his exceptional wrist control and extraordinary concentration, Smith has repeatedly solved some of Test cricket's most difficult batting problems. His performances have even prompted comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman.
Choosing the top 5 best innings of Steve Smith in Test cricket is therefore about more than simply ranking his biggest scores. Match situation, pitch conditions, quality of bowling, pressure and the impact of each innings all matter.
The following five knocks stand out for the combination of skill, difficulty and match significance.
Steve Smith's Best Test Innings: Quick Comparison
Rank | Score | Opposition | Venue | Year | Result |
1 | 144 | England | Edgbaston | 2019 | Australia won |
2 | 109 | India | Pune | 2017 | Australia won |
3 | 211 | England | Old Trafford | 2019 | Australia won |
4 | 141* | England | Brisbane | 2017 | Australia won |
5 | 178* | India | Ranchi | 2017 | Match drawn |
1. 144 vs England, Edgbaston, 2019
Smith's 144 in the first Test of the 2019 Ashes is arguably his most iconic Test innings.
It was his first Test appearance in 16 months, and he walked into a hostile Edgbaston atmosphere. Australia soon found themselves in serious trouble at 122/8. With the innings close to collapse, Smith took responsibility for the lower order and transformed the situation.
He attacked selectively, defended with remarkable judgment and worked the strike effectively with Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon. His 144 came from 219 balls and included 16 fours and two sixes.
Smith then added 142 in the second innings. The twin centuries made him only the fifth Australian to score hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test. Australia won the match, making his comeback even more memorable.
Key takeaway: Smith combined survival, strike rotation and controlled aggression when Australia desperately needed runs.
2. 109 vs India, Pune, 2017
If the Edgbaston innings demonstrated Smith's ability to handle pressure, his 109 in Pune showed his capacity to adapt to extreme spin-friendly conditions.
The pitch turned sharply from the opening day, creating a difficult environment for conventional batting. India's attack included Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, two of the world's leading Test spinners at the time.
Smith's approach was unconventional but highly effective. He used his feet, moved deep into his crease and repeatedly disrupted the bowlers' preferred lengths.
There was also an element of fortune. India missed several chances during the innings, something Smith himself later acknowledged. That caveat is important when assessing the knock, but it does not diminish its significance. His 109 came from 202 balls with 11 fours and helped Australia secure a remarkable 333-run victory.
The century was also Australia's first by a batter in India since Michael Clarke's 130 four years earlier.
Key takeaway: Smith showed that success against quality spin often depends on adaptability rather than textbook technique.
3. 211 vs England, Old Trafford, 2019
Smith's 211 at Old Trafford was a different kind of masterpiece.
Having missed the Headingley Test after suffering concussion from a Jofra Archer bouncer, Smith returned to the fourth Ashes Test with questions surrounding his ability to handle England's short-ball tactics.
He answered them with a huge double century.
Smith faced 319 balls and scored 211, striking 24 fours and two sixes. He spent 513 minutes at the crease and became a central figure in Australia's commanding first-innings total.
The innings helped Australia retain the Ashes. It also demonstrated Smith's ability to absorb an opponent's tactical challenge without abandoning the method that had made him successful.
Rather than simply attacking England's pace attack, he made England work for every chance and punished deliveries that entered his scoring areas.
Key takeaway: The 211 was a statement of resilience, concentration and tactical adaptability under intense Ashes pressure.
4. 141* vs England, Brisbane, 2017
Smith's unbeaten 141 at the Gabba is a reminder that great Test batting does not always involve spectacular strokeplay.
Australia were in trouble at 76/4 after England posted 302. The pitch was slower than expected, while England used defensive fields and short-pitched bowling to make scoring difficult. Smith responded by refusing to force the game.
He batted for more than eight hours and faced 326 balls, finishing unbeaten with 14 fours. His patience helped Australia move from a vulnerable position to a 26-run first-innings lead.
The innings also carried extra significance because Smith himself later rated it among his top five Test knocks.
Australia eventually won the Test by 10 wickets, and the victory provided the perfect start to a 4–0 Ashes series triumph.
Key takeaway: Smith's greatest strength here was his willingness to wait. He did not allow England's defensive tactics to dictate his shot selection.
5. 178* vs India, Ranchi, 2017
Smith's unbeaten 178 in Ranchi was perhaps his finest example of sustained concentration against a world-class Indian attack.
Australia needed a substantial first-innings score in difficult conditions, and Smith stayed at the crease for 8.5 hours. He faced 361 balls and remained unbeaten, repeatedly finding scoring opportunities without taking unnecessary risks.
His partnership with Matthew Wade and later Mitchell Marsh helped Australia build a competitive total, while Smith's control allowed him to dictate the tempo of the innings.
Unlike the Pune knock, which was played on a dramatically turning surface, Ranchi demanded patience as much as technique. Smith's ability to maintain concentration over such a long period made the innings particularly impressive.
Australia ultimately had to settle for a draw, but Smith's 178* remained one of the defining individual performances of the series.
Key takeaway: This innings demonstrated Smith's ability to bat for an entire day without losing concentration or control.
Steve Smith Test Records and Career Highlights
Smith's highest Test score is 239, made against England at the WACA Ground in Perth during the 2017–18 Ashes. Cricket Australia records the innings at 399 balls, with 30 fours and one six.
He also reached a career-best ICC Test batting rating of 947 points, a mark that placed him second on the all-time list at the time behind Bradman's 961. ICC records confirm Smith's 947 rating as his career-high.
The original ranking also lists Smith with 37 Test centuries and a career batting average above 56.00. Those figures should be treated as time-specific career statistics rather than permanent records, as Test totals can change as a player's career continues.
Conclusion
The top 5 best innings of Steve Smith in Test cricket highlight different aspects of his batting. The 144 at Edgbaston showed resilience, the 109 in Pune demonstrated adaptability against spin, the 211 at Old Trafford showcased dominance under pressure, while the Gabba 141* and Ranchi 178* highlighted patience and concentration.
That variety is what makes Smith's Test legacy so compelling. His greatest innings were not built around one perfect technique. They came from his ability to assess conditions, trust his method and keep solving the problem for as long as the game demanded.
