The 35-year-old Australian batting dynamite Steve Smith continues to soar to new heights in Test cricket. After regaining his lost form in the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy series against India, Smith has never really looked back. With the two-match series between Sri Lanka and Australia now underway in full swing, Smith has once again managed to hog the limelight.
A massive run feast ensued at the Galle International Stadium on the first day of the first Test as both Khawaja and Smith plundered runs on a batting-friendly track. Twin centuries from the two ace batters have allowed Australia to finish day one on a high with a commanding score of 330-2.
Smith completes 10,000 runs in Test cricket and joins the elite club
Smith’s long wait to 10,000 Test runs was all but over during Australia’s first Test clash against Sri Lanka on January 29. The NSW-born batter was forced to wait after narrowly missing out on this significant milestone in front of his home crowd at the SCG in the fifth Test when he was caught stranded on 9999 runs by Prasidh Krishna.
Sent in at number four, Smith brought up his 10,000 Test runs by advancing down the track and flicking the ball past short mid-wicket off the bowling of Prabath Jayasuriya. The completion of that single has made Steve Smith the 15th player to cross 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Furthermore, he also becomes the fourth Australian batter to reach this milestone.
Besides, what’s more impressive is the pace at which he secured these many runs. It has taken the right-handed batter only 205 innings to get to this landmark making him the fifth fastest batter to cross 10,000 runs. The batting stalwart has surpassed the likes of legendary Rahul Dravid (206), Younis Khan (208), Mahela Jayawardene (210), Sunila Gavaskar (212) and Jacques Kallis (217).
Top 10 fastest batters to reach 10K Test runs
Brian Lara (West Indies) – 195 innings
Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 195 innings
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 195 innings
Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 196 innings
Steve Smith (Australia) – 205 innings
Rahul Dravid (India) – 206 innings
Younis Khan (Pakistan) – 208 innings
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 210 innings
Sunil Gavaskar (India) – 212 innings
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 217 innings

How is the first Test shaping up between Australia and Sri Lanka?
It goes without saying that both Khawaja and Smith have deflated the Sri Lankan bowlers. Day one has clearly belonged to Australia. The Lankan bowlers toiled hard but were only able to manufacture two wickets in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
Khawaja has slammed an unbeaten 147 whereas Smith has notched up 104* with 10 fours and one six. The pair have gone about their business and tormented the in-form Lankan spinners in their very own backyard. At 330-2, Australia find themselves in a dominating position and the home side will have to explore out-of-the-box tactics to get back into the contest.