On Wednesday, the first day of the first Test in Galle, Steven Smith became the latest member of the select group of batsmen to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket. After just missing the milestone against India at his home ground, the storied Sydney Cricket Ground, Smith arrived in Sri Lanka on 9999 runs.
Two Australians, Steve Waugh in 2003 and Allan Border in 1993, have reached their 10,000th run in Test cricket in Sydney. Only this ground has witnessed multiple such milestones. Like Smith, Border and Waugh were born in Sydney. Brian Lara was the only player to get removed twice in the 9990s, while Mahela Jayawardene was the only player to be dismissed on 9999 Test runs prior to Smith.
Ricky Ponting is the only other Australian to achieve the 10000 mark, having done so in Antigua in 2008. Smith is the fourth Australian to do so.
Smith eventually reached the milestone in his 115th Test match, leveling Kumar Sangakkara (115) and became the second-fastest player to do so after Brian Lara, who reached it in just 111 Tests. Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sangakkara all reached 10,000 runs in 195 innings, while Smith is ranked fifth in terms of the number of innings needed (205) to do it.
Ponting, who achieved it in 196 innings, is the quickest Australian to do so. Out of the 15 players who have reached 10,000 runs, Smith has the fourth-best Test batting average (55.87), after Ponting, Tendulkar, and Sangakkara.
Most runs across 100 consecutive test inns*
| Batter | Runs | 100s | Avg | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Smith | 6257 | 24 | 71.92 | Inns No. 32 to 131 |
| Ricky Ponting | 6228 | 24 | 72.42 | Inns No. 85 to 184 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 6041 | 24 | 67.88 | Inns No. 100 to 199 |
| Gary Sobers | 6005 | 21 | 69.02 | Inns No. 23 to 122 |
| Brian Lara | 5799 | 19 | 59.17 | Inns No. 131 to 230 |
