Smith passes 10,000 Test runs in unbeaten century

Steve Smith, the opener for Australia against Sri Lanka, scored a century on the first day of his side’s opening test match against India, surpassing the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket.

The 35-year-old went into the first Test of the two-match series on 9, 999 runs and, as captain in the absence of Pat Cummins, chose to bat after winning the toss.

After Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne were dismissed, he hit his first home run in the middle of the third inning and nudged his first ball to make it 15th Test run.

“Fortunately hit that one in the gap so nice to get that one away”, Smith told Australia’s 7Cricket.

“Nice to tick that off”, he added.

Smith added 104 not out as his side reached 330-2 at the end of the match in Galle.

He is the fourth Australian to reach the 10, 000 Test run landmark after Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

Smith missed a year of playing when he was suspended for a year following the sandpaper ball-tampering scandal during the 2018 Test against South Africa.

India’s Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test runs on 15, 921, with Ponting second with 13, 378.