Steve Smith issues a fiery retort to critics after scoring drought-busting century at the SCG

Steve Smith has issued a fiery retort to his critics after scoring a drought-busting century at the SCG.

The champion Australian batsman was eventually run out for 131 against India and his celebration of reaching three figures was even more exuberant than unusual.

It snapped an eight Test run without a century for Smith - which would be a non-issue for mortal players.

But the 31-year-old had looked scratchy in the opening two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, scoring just 10 runs in three knocks.

"I'm reading lots of things, people say that I'm out of form but I think there's a difference between out of form and out of runs," Smith told Fox Cricket after reaching the century.

"Just nice to score a few and maybe keep a few people quiet."

It is unclear who Smith was referring to but there is also the interesting sub-plot of him losing his world No.1 Test batsman ranking to New Zealand's Kane Williamson.

"Nice to get a hundred on my home ground, I love batting here," Smith said.

"Obviously I've got a lot of fond memories here so nice to get three figures and try and get the team into a nice position now."

Before the Test, Aussie legends Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell moved to ease concerns surrounding Steve Smith's form slump.

"At the moment he is a victim of what happens to all of us in the game, I don't see it as much more than that," Taylor told Wide World of Sports.

"I dare say knowing Steve he's probably more worried about it than most of us are. I think the game comes back and bites us all the time.

Australia were bowled out for 338 on the second day of the third Test, a good fightback by India after the hosts were looking comfortable at 2-166 after the first day.