Steve Smith scripts another record, eclipses Sachin Tendulkar
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith is enjoying the form of his life as he continued to break records. He now has 7,000 Test runs and with this, he became the 11th Australian to achieve this feat. He eclipsed legendary cricketers like Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. On the same note, we take a look at the records broken by Smith.
Smith is fastest to 7,000 Test runs
Smith has become the fastest to score 7,000 runs in the longest format of the game, as he managed to do so in just 126 innings. In the process, he has gone past the previous record held by England's Walter Hammond (131), while India's Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar did so in 134 and 136 innings, respectively.
Only batsman to average 60-plus after reaching 7,000 Test runs
Smith is the 50th batsman to have reached 7,000 runs in the format. However, what is unique about him is that he is the only batsman among all to average over 60 after reaching the landmark. As of now, Smith averages 64.22 in the format.
Second-most runs in Tests in 2019 so far
Although Smith was dismissed for a mere 36 by Shaheen Afridi in the second Test, he has still managed to become the second-highest run-scorer in the format this year. In nine innings, Smith has scored 814 runs and is just 15 runs behind his team-mate Marnus Labuschagne on the top. At number three is India's Mayank Agarwal with 754 runs in 11 innings.
Smith involved in highest third-wicket partnership against Pakistan in Adelaide
Keeping his personal records aside, Smith also created a record partnership stand with David Warner. They were involved in a 121-run stand for the third wicket, which turned out to be the highest against Pakistan at this venue. Warner contributed 77 runs in the stand.
How does the match stand so far?
Winning the toss, Australian skipper Tim Paine elected to bat first. It was David Warner (335), along with top-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne (162), whose 361-run stand for the second wicket did the damage for Pakistan, as they finished on 589/3. As of now, Pakistan are 96/6, while Mitchell Starc's 4/22 has sent the visitors onto the back foot.
