London: Australian cricket maestro Steve Smith showcased his batting prowess on the first day of the highly anticipated second Test match of the Ashes 2023 series against England, setting multiple records along the way. Smith’s unbeaten knock of 85 (149) propelled him to new heights in the world of international cricket.
During his innings, the 34-year-old reached a significant milestone as he surpassed the mark of 15,000 international runs. This achievement places him among an elite group of 41 players who have achieved this feat. Smith’s current average of 49.67 in international cricket stands as the second-best among those who have reached 15,000 runs, with only India’s prolific batter, Virat Kohli, surpassing him with an average of 53.44.
Additionally, Smith attained the distinction of being the second-fastest player to reach 9,000 runs in Test cricket, achieving the feat in just 174 innings. The record for the fastest to 9,000 Test runs is held by former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, who accomplished the milestone in the same number of innings. India’s current head coach, Rahul Dravid, holds the third position, achieving the milestone in 176 innings. Legendary cricketers Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting share the fourth position, having achieved the feat in 177 innings.
Smith’s remarkable innings also secured him another unique honour, as he achieved the most consecutive 50-plus scores at Lord’s in Test cricket. With his fourth consecutive score of 50 or more at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, Smith joins the esteemed company of Frank Woolley (1921–1926), Warren Bardsley (1912–1926), and Nasser Hussain (2001–2002), who also recorded four consecutive 50-plus scores at the venue.
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are in awe of Steve Smith’s remarkable achievements on the field. His exceptional batting skills, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure have solidified his position as one of the greatest batters of the modern era.
Comments