Steve Smith has confessed his unique century celebration at the SCG on Thursday afternoon was a cheeky sledge directed at one of his Australian teammates – and you won’t need two chances to guess which one.
The New South Welshman brought up his 30th Test century on day two of the New Year’s Test against South Africa, reaching the milestone with an elegant pull stroke off Proteas quick Anrich Nortje.
Smith, who was unbeaten on zero overnight, needed 190 deliveries to pass triple figures in Sydney, pushing himself up to fourth on Australia’s all-time run-scoring tally in Tests.
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After acknowledging the crowd and hugging teammate Usman Khawaja, who had earlier scored a century of his own, Smith pointed towards the change rooms before placing down his bat and mimicking a chainsaw.
Khawaja laughed before Smith put his helmet back on and play continued.
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The 33-year-old was dismissed the following over for 104, chipping a regulation catch back to South African spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Speaking to reporters at stumps, Smith revealed the chainsaw celebration was merely his way of poking fun at Marnus Labuschagne, who had fallen victim to Nortje the previous day, edging behind for 79.
“This morning Marn was complaining about getting chainsawed. Anrich’s ball that got him out kicked up a bit and he got chainsawed,” Smith laughed.
“So I said to him, ‘I thought you were out caught on about 70 anyway, so you’ll be alright, no worries.’
“He goes, ‘Stop being so negative, Steve. I hope you get chainsawed today,’
“So I said, ‘Alright, when I get 100, I’ll reference the chainsaw.’”
Australia was cruising at 4-475 when stumps were called on day two, with Khawaja unbeaten on 195 and Matthew Renshaw at the other end of 5.
The New Year’s Test will resume on Friday morning at 10am AEDT.
