Super Smith leaves teammates awestruck

Steve Smith, Australia's captain and the world’s best Test batsman, makes batting look so easy it has his teammates in complete awe, according to allrounder Glenn Maxwell.

Smith walked off Ranchi’s JSCA Stadium at the conclusion of Australia’s first innings unbeaten on 178, his 19th Test century and the third-highest score by an Australian in India.

It was an innings that underlined not only his class but his importance to Australia's side and was the highest pillar on which the tourists built their first-innings total of 451.

Report & Highlights: India fight back after Australia's 451

Maxwell had the best seat in the house to watch Smith’s masterclass, batting with his skipper for almost 60 overs to add 191 vital runs after coming together at a precarious 4-140.

As nine of his colleagues fell around him, Smith remained stoic to notch his second century of a series in which all other batsman have combined for just one.

When asked about Smith’s impact on his charges, Maxwell struggled to find the superlatives to do his skipper justice.

"He probably lifts the team to another level because he makes the game look so easy," Maxwell said.

Quick Single: Maxwell's maiden ton completes trifecta

"We watch him play and everyone's in awe of the way he goes about it, he does it in such a different, unique way and he owns that.

"He doesn't care what people say about his technique.

"He knows he has his technique doubters, but when the bloke's got 19 Test tons and averages over 60 I don't think you can knock it too much."

Rewind seven years ago and Smith was a podgy leg-spinner with prodigious talent, yet to wear the Baggy Green but not far away as Australia continued their search for the next Shane Warne.

Quick Single: At last, Maxwell unwraps his cursed gift

At 21 he was selected to make his Test debut at Lord’s but not against the Old Enemy – it was Pakistan he would face up to, bat at No.8 and bowl a few leggies when told to by captain Ricky Ponting.

It took three years and a dozen Tests for Smith to score his maiden hundred at the highest level, this time at The Oval against England, and since then the fidgety right-hander has averaged more than 70 and risen to the summit of the world’s top batsmen.

Maxwell scored his first Test century today, one that’s been four years in the making after he made his debut in India on the disastrous 2013 tour, and looks no further than his captain for the perfect case study on how to build a booming Test record after a shaky start.

"He's a guy that people feed off," said Maxwell, whose last Test before Ranchi was in October, 2014 in Dubai.

Quick Single: A wicket 1944 days in the making

"He's a very inspirational leader with the way he's gone about his career.

"He obviously had his doubters, when he came into the team he was a leg-spinning allrounder batting at No.8 or 9.

"So what a turnaround he's had.

"I know that's a long way off, but I’d love to be able to follow in his footsteps and change my career from where I started."