Steve Smith had gotten out twice in nervous 9,990s in the Sydney Test against India earlier this month but was able to get to the milestone in Galle against Sri Lanka. Smith became only the fourth Australian batter to notch up the historic feat after Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Steve Smith finally has 10,000 Test runs against his name. With an average of close to 56 with 34 centuries and 41 fifties, Smith, who began his career as a leg-spinner transformed into a modern Test legend and now finds himself in the company of greats Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh as only the fourth Australian batter to the landmark of 10k runs, finally, after being dismissed twice in 9,990s against India in Sydney earlier this month.
It was a slightly itchy wait, which had started to weigh on Smith’s shoulders with a lot of build-up before the SCG Test. Getting out for 33 and 4 in two innings while needing 38 in Sydney to notch the feat up was disappointing for Smith but the acting captain didn’t disappoint to score that wretched one run. By virtue of Smith achieving the milestone on Day 1 of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, Smith became the joint-second fastest batter to notch up the landmark in terms of the number of Tests.
Brian Lara is at the top having completed 10,000 Test runs in his 111th Test while Smith equalled Kumar Sangakkara (115.) Smith left behind the likes of Ricky Ponting, Joe Root (both 118), Rahul Dravid (120) and Sachin Tendulkar (122) on the list. In terms of number of innings, Smith found himself in fifth place, just ahead of Rahul Dravid (206 innings) by achieving the same in 205 innings.
Fastest to 10,000 runs in Test cricket (number of innings)
195 – Brian Lara – Manchester, 2004 (vs England)
195 – Sachin Tendulkar – Kolkata, 2005 (vs Pakistan)
195 – Kumar Sangakkara – Melbourne, 2012 (vs Australia)
196 – Ricky Ponting – Antigua, 2008 (vs West Indies)
205 – Steve Smith – Galle, 2025 (vs Sri Lanka)
206 – Rahul Dravid – Chennai, 2008 (vs South Africa)
Fastest to 10,000 runs in Test cricket (number of matches)
111 – Brian Lara – Manchester, 2004 (vs England)
115 – Kumar Sangakkara – Melbourne, 2012 (vs Australia)
115 – Steve Smith – Galle, 2025 (vs Sri Lanka)
116 – Younis Khan – Jamaica, 2017 (vs West Indies)
118 – Ricky Ponting – Antigua, 2008 (vs West Indies)
118 – Joe Root – Lord’s, 2022 (vs New Zealand)
Smith came in to bat at No 4 after the fall of Marnus Labuschagne’s wicket, who scored 20 runs. Openers Usman Khawaja and Travis Head delivered on what Australia would have hoped for a good start with the partnership lasting 92 runs.
Australia playing XI for 1st Test: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy
