Steve Smith scored his 10,000th run against Sri Lanka. Steve Smith scored his 10,000th run against Sri Lanka.

Steve Smith's wait to join an exclusive club of Australian batters to score 10solare,000 Test runs has come to an end after getting over the line against Sri Lanka. (More Cricket News)

Smith appeared set to reach the milestone in the fifth and final Test against India earlier this month, but was left agonisingly short of the mark. 

South Korea, meanwhile, are placed fourth in the standings with 6 points, with one win, three draws, and one loss. They were surpassed by China, who secured 2 wins and as many points. Korea’s season began with a 5-5 draw against Japan, followed by a 2-2 draw with Pakistan, their first victory with a 3-2 win over China, 3-1 loss at the hands of India and a 3-3 draw against Malaysia in their final pool match.

Chen Benhai gave the hosts the lead with a fine field goal in the first quarter following an enterprising team move. But the highlight of the match was Chao Jieming's sensational solo effort in the second quarter.

The 35-year-old entered the contest in Sydney just 38 runs short of the landmark, but was left stranded on 9,999 at the end of the series after being bowled by Prasidh Krishna in Australia's second innings.

Though Australia lifted the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Smith conceded the milestone was on his mind in the aftermath of the final Test.

His participation in the two-match series against Sri Lanka was then thrown into question after sustaining an elbow issue during the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash League match against the Sydney Thunder.

He had previously had surgery on the same elbow back in 2019, and after his latest scare, Smith revealed he was worried about the possibility of going under the knife again.

However, Smith was ultimately able to lead the team out in Pat Cummins' absence in Galle, where he hit the milestone from the first delivery he faced, before finishing the opening day at 104 not out.

With Smith surpassing a milestone 15 years in the making, we run through the Opta data surrounding his remarkable batting statistics so far. 

A place among the greats

Smith made his Test debut for Australia at Lord's in 2010 against Pakistan, though he was selected mainly for his bowling and batted further down the order. 

Since then, however, the 35-year-old has become a staple of the Aussies' batting line-up, scoring his maiden Test century against England at The Oval back in 2013. 

Smith has gone on to score 35 Test tons for Australia, notching more against rivals England (12) than any other side he has faced on the international stage. 

SL Vs AUS, 1st Test Day 1: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja's Tons Help Australia Dominate In Galle

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After scoring his 10,000th run, Smith has cemented his spot as one of the very best to stand at the crease in cricket history.

He is the 15th man overall to score 10,000 Test runs, and the fourth from Australia after Steve Waugh (10,927), Allan Border (11,174) and Ricky Ponting (13,378).

India's Sachin Tendulkar leads the way with 15,921 runs, a record that looks to be safe for a little while longer, even with a player of Smith's quality on the prowl.

34 - Steve Smith has entered the Top 10 for most Test centuries, today's knock his 34th in the format. Pattern. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/x7xVYm5VkC

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 27, 2024

England's enemy

Smith's 55.86 batting average (prior to day one against Sri Lanka) is the best of the 20 batters to score at least 5,000 runs since he made his Test bow.

Much of that success has come at England's expense. 

His highest Test score came against Australia's historic rivals in 2017, notching a staggering 239 runs, following up the 215 he produced against them two years earlier at Lord's. 

Indeed, Smith is just one of two Australian players (also Don Bradman) and six visiting players overall to score more than one double century in England. He is also the only Australian man to score a double century in Tests in England in the last 30 years.

In fact, since his Australia debut in July 2010, only Joe Root (12,972) has scored more runs in men's Tests than Smith, who has frustrated many of England's finest over the years.

Smith scored more Test runs against Stuart Broad (577) than he has against any other bowler, but has also been dismissed by him (11) more times than any other bowler.

Broad is just one of five England players to feature among Smith's favourite 10 bowlers, also scoring large chunks of his Test runs against James Anderson (479), Moeen Ali (375), Ben Stokes (330) and Chris Woakes (322). 

Melbourne: Smith's home away from home

Smith has adapted to the conditions in various stadiums across the globe, but he has found particular comfort at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over the years.

Five of his 35 Test centuries have come in Melbourne, more than he has managed at any other venue, with his latest ton coming in his last match at the iconic stadium against India in December. 

In fact, Bradman (128.53) and Bill Lawry (78.69) are the only players with a better Test batting average at the MCG than Smith (77.87) among those who have batted at least 10 innings at the venue.

Smith will have to wait until Christmas Day to return to his favourite venue, which plays host to the fourth Test of this year's Ashes series against England.

Few would bet against him making more memories at England's expense.solare