Ashes 2023 | Steve Smith Scales 9,000; Becomes Second Fastest in Tests To Do So
Steve Smith in action on Day 1 of Lord's Test (Twitter)
Steve Smith, off the back of his twin failures at Edgbaston, took field for Australia in the second Ashes 2023 Test at the iconic Lord’s Stadium. The cricketer arrived to the crease on Day 1 following the fall of David Warner’s wicket.
Smith formed alliance with Marnus Labuschagne as the two defied a charged-up English attack for a better part of the afternoon session. Notably, when the 34-year-old hit his fourth boundary of the innings to reach 32*, he completed 9,000 Test runs in his career.
Steve Smith breaks Rahul Dravid’s record in Tests
Steve Smith, who needed 31 runs to complete 9,000 runs prior to the Lord’s affair, reached the landmark figure off the opening day of the Test itself. He flicked English captain Ben Stokes towards midwicket for a boundary to reach 32*, thus achieving his latest feat from just his 99th Test appearance.
Smith also became the second fastest batter in Test history to reach the landmark figure after former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. While the Australian batting legend has turned up in 174 innings for his country, the Sri Lankan stumper reached the 9,000-run mark from just 172 innings.
Meanwhile, Smith went past Indian icon Rahul Dravid, who took 176 innings to complete 9,000 runs. Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting are the next fastest batters on the list, having scaled the batting height in 177 innings each.
Moreover, Smith also became only the fourth cricketer, and 17th overall, to reach the 9,000-run threshold.
In a Test career spanning more than 13 years, the New South Wales-based batsman has registered 31 tons and 37 half-centuries in the format. He also averages near 60, and was recently crowned the ICC WTC winner along with the rest of his teammates.
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