Full list of records broken by Steve Smith as he enters the 10000 Test runs club

Legendary Australian cricketer Steve Smith has achieved another milestone in his career as he has reached 10000 runs in Test cricket. Smith achieved this feat during the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at Galle.

The 35-year-old reached his 10000th run in his first ball of the match as he flicked a full ball from the left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya towards long-on for a single. He immediately raised his bat to acknowledge the applause from the spectators and his teammates.

There it is!

Steve Smith is the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs 🙌#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/06FLk8iqMI

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 29, 2025

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Steve Smith scores 10000 runs in Test cricket

It was a momentous occasion for Steve Smith who came into this series on 9999 runs. He was waiting for this moment since the completion the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia where he was left stranded one run short of 10000 runs.

STEVEN SMITH COMPLETES 10,000 TEST RUNS...!!!

- The GOAT of Test cricket. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/cWqZYH7Sr4

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 29, 2025

However, Smith didn't take much time to reach the landmark and became only the fourth Australian to achieve the milestone after Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh to reach there.

Ponting tops the list with 13378 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 51.85 and 41 hundreds. Allan Border is second with 11174 runs in 156 Tests while Steve Waugh is third in the list with 10927 runs in 168 Tests. These three players alongside Steve Smith are the only players to score 10000 runs in Tests for Australia.

Fourth quickest to 10000 Test runs

Steve Smith took 205 Test innings to reach the 10000-run mark. Only Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, and Ricky Ponting have taken fewer innings than him to reach this landmark.

Lara, Tendulkar, and Sangakkara reached the milestone in 195 Test innings while Ponting reached there in 196 innings. In terms of no. of matches, he is the third quickest to reach the milestone behind Brian Lara and Kumar Sangakkara.

Smith has been a legend for more than a decade now, especially in Tests. His red-ball record is exceptional despite his unusual technique. He boasts an average of more than 55 in 114 Tests and has 34 hundreds to his name.

Steve Smith is currently Australia's captain in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka. He is leading the team in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is unavailable due to paternity leave.

But he is more than a capable captain having led the team previously as well. Smith has led the team in 39 Tests in which Australia have won 21. He has a win percentage of 53.84. However, the 2018 sandpaper-gate scandal changed everything and he was stripped of his captaincy.

Great start for Australia

Meanwhile, Australia had a brilliant start to this Test match despite the absence of the regular captain Pat Cummins. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head gave their team a brilliant start with 92 runs in just 14.3 overs. Head was dismissed for a blistering 57 off just 40 balls.

But Khawaja carried on with his merry way and took Australia to a commanding position. Khawaja has completed his hundred while Smith is nearing his 35th Test hundred in this historic match.