Steve Smith Hits 11,000 Test Runs, Joins Ponting and Border in Elite Club
Steve Smith becomes the third Australian to hit 11,000 Test runs during the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park.
In the midst of a challenging battle against South Africa, Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith has etched his name into the history books. During the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, Smith became only the third Australian player to cross the monumental 11,000-run mark in Test cricket, joining the legendary ranks of Ricky Ponting and Allan Border.
A Milestone Amidst Struggle
While the achievement is a personal triumph, it came during a period of immense pressure for the Australian side. In the first innings, Australia found themselves completely dismantled by the South African bowling attack, eventually being bowled out for a meager 99 runs.
Steve Smith emerged as the lone warrior among the recognized batters. He fought a gritty battle, scoring 28 runs off 88 deliveries, including two boundaries, before he was finally bowled by Wiaan Mulder. Despite the low team score, these runs were enough to propel Smith into the 11,000-run club, making him the 12th player globally to reach this milestone in the longest format of the game.
Joining the All-Time Greats
Smith's entry into this exclusive group places him alongside some of the greatest names to ever hold a bat. Within Australia, he now trails Ricky Ponting, who leads the national list with 13,378 runs, and Allan Border, who amassed 11,174 runs.
Beyond the raw numbers, Smith has also distinguished himself by the speed at which he reached the milestone. He is one of the few batters to hit 11,000 runs in fewer than 230 innings. Here is how he compares to other legends:
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 208 innings (The fastest to reach the mark)
- Brian Lara (West Indies): 213 innings
- Ricky Ponting (Australia): 222 innings
- Sachin Tendulkar (India): 223 innings
- Steve Smith (Australia): 226 innings
- Rahul Dravid (India) & Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 234 innings
South Africa in Command
While Smith celebrated a career milestone, the match situation remained dire for the visitors. South Africa's dominance was fueled by a massive first-innings total, anchored by a stellar performance from captain Temba Bavuma, who smashed 179 runs. He was well-supported by Marco Jansen, who contributed 85 runs with the bat.
The momentum shifted completely when South Africa took to the field. Marco Jansen proved to be a nightmare for the Australian batters, ripping through the lineup to claim five wickets. Wiaan Mulder added two more to the tally, ensuring Australia's collapse.
Having bowled Australia out for 99, South Africa enforced the follow-on, placing the visitors under severe strain. The hosts are now in a commanding position as they look to secure a victory and level the three-match series 1-1.