Steve Smith's 'longest drought' between Test tons exposed after 'relentless' Mohammed Siraj wicket

Steve Smith's unfortunate run with the bat in Test cricket has continued, piling on to Australia's misery in the first Test against India.

Smith was dismissed for 17 runs off 60 balls after he was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj.

The Aussie star was dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings.

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Smith's last hundred was in June 2023 against England at Lord's, meaning he has now gone 23 innings without a century.

Among those 23 knocks, there's only been four half-centuries.

During Australia's ugly second innings, Smith looked spooked by the previous delivery from Siraj which appeared to bounce awkwardly off a length.

Smith took one hand off the bat as it hit high on the top sticker. Siraj's next ball hit a similar line and length, but straightened this time with Smith's edging behind and once again pulling his bottom hand away from the bat.

Aussie great Adam Gilchrist described it as "relentless" bowling from Siraj before Mike Hussey assessed whether Smith was in two minds after the previous delivery.

"I just wonder if the ball before was just in the back of his mind," he said on Fox Cricket.

"It bounced steeply and he took the bottom hand off the bat and reacted to it. It was a good ball and good line and length but he couldn't really get any weight into the ball to try and defend it. I just wonder if it was in the back of his mind."

"Often in these situations it's about technical skill but also about the mind and putting out the last delivery and focusing on the next one," Mark Waugh added.

"It's just straightened enough ... he was expecting the ball to slide into him, it didn't."

Smith's dismissal left Australia reeling at 5-79, chasing 534 to win.