Steve Smith, Australia’s star batter, has etched his name in the record books by becoming only the fourth Australian to complete 10,000 Test runs. Smith reached this milestone during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on January 29, 2025. He achieved the landmark with a simple single, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd and warm applause from the Sri Lankan players.
At 35, Smith joined an elite group of cricketers that includes legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Brian Lara. He became only the 15th player in Test history to surpass the 10,000-run mark and the fourth Australian to do so, following Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ponting. Smith reached the milestone in just 115 Tests and 205 innings, making him the third-fastest player to achieve the feat. The fastest remains a three-way tie between Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, and Kumar Sangakkara, who all reached the landmark in 195 innings.
Steve Smith’s glorious career
Smith’s journey in Test cricket began in 2010 against Pakistan at Lord’s, though his debut outing was far from impressive. He managed only 13 runs across both innings (1 and 12). However, over the years, he transformed into one of Australia’s most dependable and prolific Test batters, becoming the backbone of their middle order. His consistency has been remarkable, and with 34 Test centuries to his name, he stands second in the list of most Test hundreds by an Australian, only trailing Ponting, who scored 41.
Steve Smith becomes the 4th Australian and 15th batter overall to score 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ runs in Test cricket 👏#SLvAUS #Australia #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/7iCCzcY07b
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) January 29, 2025
Leading Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave and also nursing minor injuries, Smith has stepped up to guide the team in this crucial two-match Test series. His leadership and batting prowess remain pivotal for Australia as they aim to secure a strong result against Sri Lanka before heading for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa.
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