Australia's talismanic batsman Steve Smith is on the verge of scripting history in the ongoing fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). He would have reached this milestone on Day 2 had Prasidh Krishna not removed him.
Steve Smith was dismissed just five runs short of his 10,000th run by Prasidh Krishna on Day 2 of the ongoing New Year Test in Sydney. Initially, Smith had handled Krishna well, hitting a big shot for six and a square drive for four.
Steve Smith falls short of 10,000 Tests but reaches 5,000 home runs
But then Krishna delivered a magical ball to give India a crucial breakthrough, dismissing the Australian batting maestro for 33 off 57 balls at the SCG. However, the former Australian skipper may have missed 10,000 Test runs by a few hours but managed to add another feather to his already illustrious record table.
In fact, Smith crossed 5,000 Test runs in Australia on Day 2 of the fifth Test against India at the SCG. With 5,011 runs in 58 Tests at home at an average of 60.37 to his name, the right-handed batsman becomes the sixth Australian to reach 5,000 Test runs.
Smith also scored 18 centuries and 19 fifties in Australia, joining legends like Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and David Warner in the 5,000-run club. Notably, Smith is the only one with an average over 60.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith is all set to become the 15th player in Test history to score 10,000 or more runs in the format if he manages to get past five runs in the ongoing SCG Test against India. He will also become the fourth Australian to do so after Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Waugh.
Steve Smith ranks his Top-10 centuries and picks a favorite in Test cricket
Meanwhile, Steve Smith spoke about his top 10 innings and picked his favorite Test century from those innings as he approaches the historic milestone in the ongoing SCG Test.
Also Read: 'We're knocking him down': Yograj Singh slams critics, backs Rohit Sharma amid fightback
Well, Smith picked his maiden Test century which came during the fifth match of the 2013 Ashes series when he scored 138 not out against England, being the tenth favorite for a hundred. His 9 was 215 at Lords, as Smith said: “I remember not sleeping the night before that, literally not a wink. I came out to play and felt good from the start.”
The former Australian captain picked his recent Gabba Test 100 against India as his number 8 to bat, followed by 111 at the WACA against England in 2013 and a flawless 121 in the World Test Championship final against India in 2023 at numbers seven and six . .
Steve Smith likes to dominate England in Tests
Smith chose his remarkable innings of 211 at Old Trafford in 2019 as the number five best innings of his Test career, saying: “It was just a good, solid innings.” The modern Australian great then picked 109 against India in Pune, his fourth, followed by 141* against England at The Gabba in 2017 as his third-best Test knock ever.
The batting master stated: “The ball was ragged all over. It was the first test match of the summer. I was in a bit of a fight early on from memory to play the way I did. Not being out at the end of it, it was a good innings.” Well, Smith's second best Test ton was against South Africa in Centurion in 2014 when he scored 100 against a good quality attack.
Finally, Smith chose his knock of 144 runs against England at Edgbaston in 2019 as his favorite Test innings so far. He ended by saying, “Yes, obviously I had been out for a year. Helping the team in the first innings of the Ashes series was huge in England.”
What is your favorite Steve Smith Test century?
Smudge ranks in the top 10 as he approaches the 10,000 test runs milestone 💯#AUSWIND pic.twitter.com/zCvY0E9FfD
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2025