Galle: Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith reached the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket with his very first scoring shot on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.
Smith, 35, became just the fourth Australian and the 15th player overall to achieve this rare feat, joining the ranks of Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting—all of whom were captains when they reached the landmark.
Fastest to 10,000 Test Runs (By Innings & Matches)
- Smith reached the milestone in his 205th innings, making him the fifth fastest batter to achieve the feat.
- Only Brian Lara (111 matches) has taken fewer matches than Smith (115) to reach 10,000 runs.
- Among Australians, only Ricky Ponting (196 innings) did it faster.
Smith’s Record-Breaking Numbers
- He boasts a Test average of over 55, a record bettered only by Kumar Sangakkara (57.40) among batters with 10,000+ runs.
- Among active players, Joe Root (12,972 runs) is the only one ahead of Smith.
Having missed his milestone moment at the SCG against India, where he was dismissed on 9,999 runs, Smith sealed history with a flick to mid-on off Prabath Jayasuriya on his first ball of the day. His batting partner Usman Khawaja congratulated him with a warm embrace, while the crowd applauded the historic achievement.
Smith now looks to add to his tally and further cement his legacy as one of Australia’s greatest Test batters.