Australia’s Steve Smith has etched his name in cricketing history by finishing the monumental achievement of 10,000 runs in Test matches. His achievement came during the first Test match of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. Smith, who had been in scintillating form, needed just five runs to reach this landmark after a brief and frustrating near miss in his last Test series against India in Sydney.
A Wait of 24 Days: From 9999 to 10,000 Test Runs
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Smith’s quest for 10,000 runs had been a near miss in the last Test series. In the last game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India last month, Smith had been left stranded on 9999 runs. Requiring just 5 runs in his last innings to achieve the milestone, Smith could score only 4 runs before getting dismissed. This left him a run short. He had to wait for 24 days to actually complete the milestone in Sri Lanka.
In his first innings of the series against Sri Lanka, Smith was not slow in getting going. He took a single off Prabath Jayasuriya, one of Sri Lanka’s spinners, in the very first ball he faced to reach 10,000 Test runs and join an elite group.
With this achievement, Steve Smith became the 15th batsman in history to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. The first player to do so was India’s Sunil Gavaskar, who reached the milestone in 1987. For Australian cricketers, Allan Border was the first to cross the 10,000-run mark. Smith is now the fourth Australian batsman to join this exclusive club, alongside Border, Ricky Ponting, and Matthew Hayden.
A Dream Realized: Captaincy and Personal Feat
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In addition to reaching 10,000 runs, Smith is also captaining the Australian side in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka. His leadership has been key to Australia’s success in recent years, and his personal milestone is a testament to his consistency and skill as one of the game’s finest batsmen. Smith’s career has traveled a long way since he first came to the team in 2010 when he was introduced as a leg-spinner and came in at number 8 in the batting order.
A Fastest to 10,000: Smith’s Remarkable Record
Not only has Smith crossed the 10,000-run mark, but he has done so in impressive fashion. Smith, who has scored 10,000 runs in 205 innings, is the fifth-fastest batsman to do so. Smith joins a group of players who include cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Kumar Sangakkara. All these batsmen had crossed the 10,000 mark in Test runs in just 195 innings.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was one of Smith’s predecessors who achieved the feat in 196 innings. Smith’s career average is a whopping 55.87 with 34 centuries under his belt. His highest score in Test cricket is a massive 239 runs, which just shows that he is a man who can play big innings.
A Testament to Excellence
Steve Smith’s 10,000 Test runs is an extraordinary feat in the game of cricket. He is one of the greatest batsmen of his generation due to his consistency, leadership, and his relentless desire to perform. As he continues to lead Australia and add to his record, Smith’s milestone is a fitting tribute to a player whose career has only gone from strength to strength since his debut in 2010.
His journey to 10,000 runs is a testament to his enduring talent, and cricket fans around the world will be watching closely as he continues to write new chapters in his illustrious career.
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