Australia’s Steve Smith celebrates after scoring a century in Sydney on Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Steven Smith etched his name deeper into cricket’s record books on Tuesday, surpassing the legendary Don Bradman to become the highest run-scorer against England. The Aussie batter is now behind only India greats Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli among the top run-scorers against a single opponent, as he produced another masterclass on Day 3 of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Australia’s stand-in captain raised his 37th Test hundred, reaching the landmark with a deft three to fine leg, and in the process took his aggregate runs against England to 5085, moving past Bradman’s 5028 against the same opponents. Only Tendulkar (6707 vs Australia) and Kohli (5551 vs Australia) now sit above Smith on the all-time list of most international runs against a single opposition. SA20 breakout star Nqobani Mokoena opens up on his journeyThe century was Smith’s 13th in the Ashes, placing him second only to Bradman’s 19, and further underlining his dominance in cricket’s oldest rivalry. At the SCG, Smith now has 1225 runs at an average of 72.05, with five centuries — numbers bettered only by former skipper Ricky Ponting.Most runs vs an opponent in international cricket6707 – Sachin Tendulkar vs Australia5551 – Virat Kohli vs Australia5108 – Sachin Tendulkar vs Sri Lanka5085* – Steven Smith vs England5028 – Don Bradman vs EnglandSmith’s knock lifted Australia into a commanding position after Travis Head had laid the platform with a blistering 163. The right-hander, batting on 129 at stumps, guided Australia beyond a 100-run lead and strengthened their grip on the match and the series. With this effort, he also moved past Rahul Dravid to climb to seventh on the all-time Test hundreds list, now just one century shy of Kumar Sangakkara.Most Ashes hundreds19 – Don Bradman13 – Steven Smith12 – Jack Hobbs10 – Steve Waugh9 – Wally Hammond9 – David GowerSpeaking after stumps, Smith said the SCG wicket suited his game and praised Head for his impact at the top. Comfortable on his home deck and backed by a raucous crowd, Smith once again proved why, when it comes to England, he now stands atop the ladder in the history books.Most Test hundreds51 – Sachin Tendulkar45 – Jacques Kallis41 – Ricky Ponting41 – Joe Root38 – Kumar Sangakkara37 – Steven Smith36 – Rahul Dravid