New Delhi:
Steve Smith has shown in 2019 that he is a run-scoring genius when it comes to the Test arena. In the Ashes, Smith was the difference maker as he ensured Australia retained the Urn for the first time in England since 2001. The right-hander slammed centuries in both innings in the Edgbaston Test and slammed 211 in Old Trafford as the five-match Ashes series ended 2-2. The exploits of Smith made him the No.1 ranked Test player in the ICC rankings and many players have struggled to match up to his consistency ever since his return from a one-year ban following the ball-tampering scandal. In the Pink Ball Test against Pakistan in Adelaide, Smith reached a special milestone and cemented his place as a modern-day great in Test cricket.
On 22, Smith pulled a short ball from Muhammad Musa to the fine leg fence and he went past 7000 runs in Test cricket. Smith reached the milestone in just his 126th innings and he became the fastest to reach the landmark, breaking a 73-year record. Wally Hammond of England held the previous record of fastest to 7000 in just 131 innings. Virender Sehwag of India reached the record in 134 innings while Sachin Tendulkar took 136 innings for the milestone.
Virat Kohli, who is competing with Smith to become the greatest batsman in Tests, took 138 innings to score 7000 runs and he is level with Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Garfield Sobers. Currently, Smith's average in 2019 is over 100 in Tests while overall, in 69 Tests, he averages a staggering 64. The right-hander is on course to become the leading run-getter in Tests in 2019, which is currently held by Marnus Labuschagne, who smashed his second consecutive century during the ongoing series against Pakistan.
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Labuschagne made an impact after he was used as a concussion substitute in the Ashes Test in Lord's in 2019 after Smith suffered a blow from a 92 mph bouncer from Jofra Archer. Labuschagne has been in fantastic form ever since his innings in Lord's, managing scores of 59,74,80,67,11,48,14,185 and 162. Following his knock of 162 and his partnership of 361 with David Warner who is on course for a triple century, Labuschagne is currently the leading run-getter for Australia in Tests but Smith is on course to overhaul his tally provided he scores his fifty. His 7000-run milestone is only proof that Smith is a run-scoring freak when it comes to Test cricket.
