Australian star batter Steve Smith has achieved another significant milestone in Test matches. During the second Test against South Africa in Gabba, Smith amassed 11,000 Test runs.
This achievement makes him the third Australian and the twelfth player globally to reach this mark. However, despite Smith's personal record, the Australian team was dismissed for only 99 runs in the first innings. Following this, South Africa decided to enforce the follow-on.
At the age of 37, Smith scored 28 runs off 88 balls during Australia's first innings at the SCG. His innings included two quarters, and he was dismissed by Wayne Mulder. Smith reached the 11,000-run mark in his 226th career innings. He ranks fifth among players who have reached this total with the fewest innings.
Among Australian batters to reach 11,000 Test runs, Smith follows Ricky Ponting and Elan Border. Ponting has accumulated 13,378 Test runs in his career, while Border has recorded 11,174 runs.
The record holder for the fewest innings to reach 11,000 Test runs is Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, who reached this figure in 208 innings. The second is Brian Lara of the West Indies with 213 innings. Ponting achieved this in 222 innings, and Sachin Tendulkar of India in 223 innings.
Smith surpassed Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis of South Africa, who required 234 innings to reach this threshold, completing their journey in 226 innings.
Although the day was special for Smith in terms of personal achievements, the Australian team faced difficult conditions in the match. South African bowlers restricted Australia's first innings to a modest 99 runs. Marco Jansen delivered a brilliant performance, taking five wickets. Wayne Mulder took two wickets, and it was he who dismissed Smith. Prior to this, South Africa had established a strong position thanks to Captain Temba Bavuma's 179 runs. Jansen also made a vital contribution to overcoming early difficulties, scoring 85 runs.
After South Africa gained a significant advantage in the first innings, they forced Australia to play a follow-on. Thus, despite Smith reaching 11,000 Test runs, the Australian team was under pressure in the second Test.