Steve Smith Completes 11,000 Test Runs; Joins Elite List

Steve Smith completes 11,000 Test runs - (Source: AFP)

On Wednesday, October 21, Australia star batter Steve Smith scripted history as he completed 11000 Test runs. The right-handed batter became the 3rd player after Ricky Ponting and Allan Border to reach this feat in Test cricket.

Before the start of play on Day 4, Steve Smith required 28 runs to complete 11,000 Test runs. The 37-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2010, took 226 innings to reach this feat. Overall, the Australia star became the 12th cricketer to 11000 Test runs.

Steve Smith 5th Fastest To 11000 Test Runs

With the feat, Steve Smith also became the fifth fastest player in Test history to score 11000 runs.

Fastest to 11000 Runs in Tests (By Innings):

208 - Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
213 - Brian Lara (West Indies/ICC)
222 - Ricky Ponting (Australia)
223 - Sachin Tendulkar (India)
226 - Steven Smith (Australia)*
234 - Rahul Dravid (India/ICC), Jacques Kallis (South Africa/ICC)

Steve Smith Completes 1000 Test Runs vs South Africa

Steve Smith also completed 1000 Test runs against the Proteas and became the 9th Australian player to score 1000 runs against South Africa in Tests.

He completed it on the third ball of the 13th over. It is Smith’s fourth opponent against whom he has reached the milestone, after England (3,703), India (2,356) and Pakistan (1,175).

Most runs for Steve Smith vs an opposition

England - 3703
India - 2356
Pakistan - 1175
South Africa - 1000

Anrich Nortje Walks Off The Field vs Australia In Massive Blow for South Africa

Steve Smith Bats Despite Discomfort

Steve Smith walked to bat when South Africa were reduced to 22/3. Notably, on Day 3 of the 2nd Test, Smith walked out of the field due to a finger injury, which raised concerns over his participation in the match.

The incident occurred during the 98th over of the first South Africa innings, at a time when the legendary Australian batter was fielding at second slip and made a dive to his left at second slip but failed to get underneath the dying ball.

Shrugging off the doubts, Smith walked to bat and had anti-glare tape like Shivnarine Chanderpaul on for the entire time. Smith didn't look troubled by the finger injury but he experienced new pain in his neck.