Australian batting maestro Steve Smith has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the fourth Australian to surpass 10,000 Test runs, joining the ranks of Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh. He reached this prestigious landmark in just 205 innings, making him the fifth-fastest batsman to achieve the feat in Test cricket.
A Special Moment in Galle
Smith accomplished this milestone on day one of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, flicking a delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya wide of mid-on for a single. Speaking about the achievement, Smith told Channel Seven, “Nice to tick that off,” as he walked off for lunch.
Cricketing Greats Praise Smith’s Brilliance
Australian legend Allan Border, whose record Smith now shares, commended his unorthodox yet effective technique.
“He’s not someone you’d tell young cricketers to copy, but he understands his game perfectly, and that’s what matters. There may be more elegant players, but few have a record like his.” – Allan Border, via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Border even compared Smith to Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, saying:
“I’m a huge fan of Tendulkar and Lara – they were phenomenal cricketers, and Steve is definitely in that league.”
Smith Among the Test Cricket Elite
With this milestone, Smith has become:
✅ The fourth Australian to score 10,000+ Test runs.
✅ The 15th cricketer in Test history to achieve this feat.
✅ The fifth-fastest player to reach the mark (in 205 innings).
Smith has amassed his runs at an average of over 55, second only to Kumar Sangakkara (57.40) among players who have crossed the 10,000-run threshold.
Among active cricketers, only Joe Root (12,972 Test runs) has more runs than Smith.
An Unforgettable Moment for Smith
The milestone was bittersweet for Smith, who missed the chance to reach it in front of his home crowd at the SCG against India, falling just one run short at 9,999. However, he didn’t have to wait long—he reached 10,000 Test runs on the first ball he faced on Wednesday.
Walking in at 137/2, Smith nudged a single off Prabath Jayasuriya to mid-on, drawing applause from the crowd before sharing an emotional hug with his batting partner Usman Khawaja.
Final Thoughts
Steve Smith’s achievement solidifies his status as one of Australia’s greatest-ever batters. With his exceptional consistency and hunger for runs, cricket fans can expect many more records to tumble as his career progresses.