Steve Smith becomes the fastest batter in history to hit 8000 Test runs

Steve Smith

Steve Smith’s reputation as a Test legend is growing. Steve Smith became the fastest player to 8,000 runs when he reached seven in the second innings of Australia’s ongoing third Test against Pakistan on Thursday (March 24). In his 151st innings, he accomplished this feat. The 32-year-old right-hander hit a boundary off Hasan Ali to reach the milestone one innings faster than Kumar Sangakkara, who did so in 152 innings. The ‘Little Master,’ Sachin Tendulkar, is third on the list, having scored 8000 runs in his 154th innings in 2002.

Garry Sobers of the West Indies is fourth, having set the record in 157 innings. ‘The Wall’ Rahul Dravid is fifth with 8000 runs completed in 158 innings. Smith made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lords in 2010, in his 85th Test match. So far, the right-handed batter has scored over 8000 runs at a whopping average of nearly 60 and a high score of 239. Smith, a modern-day great and member of the ‘Fab Four,’ has 27 centuries and 36 half-centuries in the game’s longest format.

Steve Smith’s latest accomplishment came in the midst of a recent dry spell by his high standards. Steve Smith had only one century in 29 innings since the 2019 Ashes series before the current match in Lahore. Steve Smith, 32, has an overall Test batting average of over 60 and 27 hundreds to his name and will be looking to break even more records. Notably, during the 2019 home Test series against Pakistan, Steve Smith became the quickest to 7,000 Test runs.

Players	Matches	Innings	Opposition	Venue	Year
Steven Smith	85	151	Pakistan	Lahore	2022
Kumar Sangakkara	91	152	India	Colombo (PSS)	2010
Sachin Tendulkar	96	154	West Indies	Kingston	2002
Garry Sobers	91	157	England	Kingston	1974
Rahul Dravid	94	158	Sri Lanka	Delhi	2005

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Steve Smith joins the elite group

While Steve Smith has reached 8,000 Test runs, he has joined the likes of Matthew Hayden (164 innings), Ricky Ponting (165), Michael Clarke (172), Allan Border (184), and Steve Waugh (194) in reaching this mark. Meanwhile, Australia has taken a commanding lead in the third Test match against Pakistan. At the end of the first innings, the team enjoyed a 123-run advantage over the hosts. Australia had amassed 216 runs by the time Steve Smith was dismissed for 17 in the second innings.

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