That's perhaps the most inconspicuous century I've ever watched in Test cricket.

Next week I might well be unable to recall a single shot that Steve Smith played during this knock.

And that's not a criticism at all. Given the game situation, given this pitch, it's been perfect. A innings of supreme application and concentration.

All nudges and nurdles, clips and flicks and all done with total control. What a tremendous player.

Image source, Getty Images

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

We're watching a once-in-a-generation cricketer. He's still young and we're going to see plenty more runs from him in his career.

100 for Steve Smithpublished at 117.4 overs

117.4 overs

Steve Smith defends his first ball on 99, but width from Malan next up and the Aussie skipper cuts away for the one he run he needs.

That's his 23rd century in 60 Tests and third in this series.

Not a match-winning innings this time, but a vital match-saving one. Sublime work.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Smith has now passed 600 runs in the series at an average of 150. The last Australian to score 600 in an Ashes series is Michael Slater in 1994-95.

The only other Australian captain to do it in a Ashes series is Don Bradman. He did it twice.

Malan to Smith, who flicks it through mid-wicket to move to 99.

Marsh picks up one to return his skipper to the strike...

AFCSTU: Lock him in the toilet during a break. Hide the key, and he gets timed out. Looks like I’m in charge for the next Ashes tour.

Smith drives and it's parried in the field, allowing him to pick up another run. Just two away from another century.

That's 10 over until the captains can shake hands on a draw.

Dawid Malan returns to the fray with his leg-spin.

He's very accurate for a part-timer, but Mitchell Marsh isn't looking to score anyway and duly plays out a maiden.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

People would be surprised about the amount of horrendous conversation on a cricket field, even batters in the middle. I have had everything from talking about Eastenders to what the bowler is doing.

Smith just one blow away from his century - and he sees an opportunity to get there as Woakes over-pitches, but the cover drive picks out the fielder.

Nothing doing otherwise. Another maiden.

Jeremy Hobart from a very wet Devon but soon to arrive in Australia for a probability theory conference: Probability theory, using Rasch’s measurement model, dictates that the probability of getting Steve Smith out (p{SSO}) Is a logistic function {e/1+e} of the difference between the quality of the bowling {Q Bowl Eng} and the quality of his batting {Q Bat SS}. Put mathematically that is:

p{SSO} = f {[Q Bowl Eng] - [Q Bat SS]}

Where f = e/(1+e)

As such, the higher the quality of the bowling the higher the probability of getting him out. Given he has now faced 1200+ balls this implies he’s not faced a high proportion of high quality balls. ie his batting is considerably better quality than the bowling he has faced during the series.

Ps. Same conceptual issues apply to improving the quality of Moeen’s bowling. Not having a full time spin coach and hoping he will be adequately self taught from YouTube videos of Fred Titmus is probably not enough.

Rinse, repeat.

Smith taps a single off the first ball of the over and Marsh sees off the remaining five.

Thomas Tew: Australia have shown here exactly what is lacking in England’s psyche. When was the last time they were able to bat out a draw? They crumbled the last two series despite media calls for Atherton-esque innings.

Chris Woakes is on - Smith punches him straight down the ground but it's too straight, clattering into the stumps. No touch on it from Woakes and Marsh was still back in his crease anyway.

Smith then sets off for a fairly risky single, but even after an eternity in the middle still has enough speed to get home in time. He moves to 96.

The Marsh blockathon continues at the other end.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Steve Smith's 3,000 runs in Australia have come at an average of 76.92.

Broad goes short at Smith, who gets his wrists high and rolls it down into leg for one to move to 95.

That's also 3,000 Test runs for Smith in Australia. Handy.

Five balls to Marsh. Five dot balls to Marsh.

Jon Mills: It's not rocket science. Just stick him on an English wicket and bowl at him for 10 minutes.

Anderson to Marsh. A maiden.

Nothing else to say.

James Moore: Give Steve Smith “a holiday of a lifetime” and leave him in a jungle or on an island whilst the Ashes is on!

Image source, EPA