In the ongoing thrilling Ashes 2023, Australian cricketer Steven Smith reached a special milestone with a record. The 34-year-old right-handed batter became the second fastest to complete 9000 Test runs.
Australia and England are busy in the second game of the five-match Ashes 2023 at Lord’s. Trailing by a 0-1 margin in this Test series, the hosts England chose to field first on the opening day of this second Test.
On the first day of this match, Steven Smith completed his 9000 Test runs. It was his 99th Test match as the Aussie right-handed batter was playing his 174th Test innings to reach this remarkable milestone.
Steven Smith’s achievements to complete 9000 Test runs in 174 innings (99 matches)
Smith became the 17th cricketer to reach the 9000 Test runs milestone.
After Allan Border (10927 runs), Steve Waugh (11174 runs) and Ricky Ponting (13378 runs), Smith became the fourth Australian cricketer to complete 9000 runs in Test cricket.
Fastest Australian batter to complete 9000 Test runs (in terms of number of Test innings). Ricky Ponting was holding the previous record by reaching this milestone in 177 Test innings.
Fastest to complete 9000 Test runs (in terms of number of Test matches). West Indies legend Brian Lara was the previous record holder in this list as the left-handed batter took 101 Test matches to complete 9000 Test runs.
Second fastest to complete 9000 Test runs (in terms of number of Test innings). Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara still holds this record as the left-handed batter completed 9000 runs in 172 Test innings.
Also Read | Joe Root vs Steve Smith Test cricket stats and comparison
Fastest to 9000 Test runs (Number of innings)
Player (Team) | Innings (Matches) |
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) | 172 (103) |
Steven Smith (Australia) | 174 (99) |
Rahul Dravid (India/ICC World XI) | 176 (104) |
Brian Lara (West Indies) | 177 (101) |
Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 177 (106) |
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) | 178 (108) |
Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 179 (111) |
Younis Khan (Pakistan) | 184 (103) |
Jacques Kallis (South Africa/ICC World XI) | 188 (110) |
Sunil Gavaskar (India) | 192 (110) |
(Updated till 29 June 2023)
Steven Smith hit his 32nd Test century
On the second day of the Lord’s Test, Steven Smith completed his 32nd Test hundred in style. The right-handed batter took 169 balls to hit that ton. Before the English right-arm pacer Josh Tongue dismissed him, Smith scored 110 runs in 184 balls with the help of 15 fours. At the end of that innings, Smith scored 9079 runs in his Test career.
Australia ultimately scored 416 runs before the hosts bowled them out. Apart from Smith’s century, opener David Warner scored 66 runs, Marnus Labuschagne scored 47 runs, and Travis Head was stumped out after scoring 77 runs.
Must Read | Best Innings of Steve Smith in Test Cricket
