Ricky Ponting picks ‘second-greatest batsman’ after Don Bradman

Steve Smith is set to achieve a momentous milestone as he gears up to play his 100th Test match. The upcoming clash between Australia and England in the third Ashes Test, scheduled for July 6-10 in Leeds, provides the stage for Smith’s landmark appearance. Once the renowned Australian cricketer takes the field, he will join an esteemed group of only 14 Australian players who have reached the century mark in Test cricket.

“If it all ended tomorrow, he’d be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman. Statistically, you cannot argue with that. He’s achieving things so quickly. Even at Lord’s, he became the second-fastest in history to reach 9,000 Test runs,” said Ponting.

Throughout his illustrious career spanning 99 Tests, Smith has consistently displayed exceptional batting prowess. His remarkable record boasts an impressive tally of 9,113 runs, scored at an average of 59.56 and a strike rate of 53.78. 

This remarkable feat includes an astonishing 32 centuries, four double hundreds, and 37 half-centuries. Notably, Smith’s highest individual score in Test matches is 239, achieved against England during the 2017-18 Ashes series.

In the previous Ashes Test, which Australia won by 43 runs, Smith showcased his exceptional skills by scoring a remarkable century. His innings of 110 runs off 184 deliveries in the first innings earned him his 32nd Test hundred, accompanied by seven boundaries. For his outstanding performance, Smith was honoured as the Player of the Match.

As Smith prepares for his landmark Test, he expressed his desire to clinch an Ashes series victory in England, a longstanding ambition on his bucket list. With the upcoming match marking his 100th appearance, Smith hopes to make it an extraordinary moment by contributing to a series-clinching triumph.

Updated: 06 Jul 2023, 10:16 AM IST