Veteran batter Steve Smith reached the milestone of 10,000 Test runs with his very first scoring shot on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. The 35-year-old stand-in captain became the fourth Australian and the 15th player overall to accomplish this rare feat. He now joins legendary Australian batters Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting in the elite club—all of whom were Test captains when they crossed the 10,000-run mark.
Smith achieved the milestone in his 205th innings, making him the fifth-fastest batsman by innings to reach 10,000 Test runs. When measured by matches played, only West Indies great Brian Lara (111 Tests) has done it in fewer games than Smith, who achieved the feat in his 115th Test. In terms of innings, Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara (both in 195 innings), and Ricky Ponting (196 innings) are the only players to have reached the landmark in fewer innings than Smith.
Among Australian players, only Ponting has achieved this milestone in fewer innings, taking 196 to reach the mark. Smith, known for his consistency, boasts a batting average of over 55, with only Kumar Sangakkara maintaining a higher average (57.40) among players with over 10,000 Test runs. Among active cricketers, only Joe Root has more Test runs, with a tally of 12,972.
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Smith had a near-miss moment during the Test series against India at the SCG, where he was dismissed while sitting at 9,999 career runs. However, he wasted no time in reaching the landmark this time, flicking left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to mid-on for a single off the very first ball he faced.
Walking in at 137/2 in the first session, Smith was warmly applauded by the crowd as he completed the milestone. His batting partner, Usman Khawaja, celebrated the moment with a congratulatory hug, marking another significant chapter in Smith’s illustrious career.