Steve Smith breaks Sir Don Bradman’s Test tally record

Former Australian captain Steve Smith went past Sir Don Bradman's Test tally of 6,996 runs after crossing the mark in the ongoing second Test against Pakistan on Saturday

Once again Steve Smith takes the headlines for breaking a record in the game of cricket. This time, it was a massive achievement, as he overhauled the great Don Bradman’s Test tally of 6996 runs. And also, he completed the 7000-run milestone in the Test format and became the 11th Australian to do so.

The swashbuckling batsman completed 20 runs at Adelaide to overtake Donald Bradman’s Test run tally. The legendary batsman for the Baggy Green scored  6996 runs in 52 Test matches with a peerless average of 99.94. Bradman in his 80 innings managed to slam 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries for Australia. On the other hand, Smith in his 126 innings, scored 7013 runs at an average of 63.75.

Steve Smith fastest to reach 7000 runs in Tests:

Steve Smith became the 11th Test batsmen for Australia to scale mount 7K in the longest and oldest format of the game. By achieving the feat, he also became the fastest batsman to reach the mark. The 30-year-old took a single off Muhammad Musa during the second Test against Pakistan in Adelaide to break the record held for 73 years by English great Wally Hammond.

Smith failed to live up to the expectations in the first Test between Australia and Pakistan which the hosts won comprehensively at the Gabba in Brisbane. Even in the second Test, he couldn’t reach the big tally despite getting the start. However, the heroics from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia to reach a massive tally on the board.

The home team resumed the day-night second Test at 302 for one with Warner on 166 and Marnus Labuschagne 126, with the pair putting on another 67 runs before Pakistan finally got a breakthrough. The 25-year-old, who had been consistent off later, walked back to the pavilion to a standing ovation after a classy 162, his second century in a row.

Just minutes later, the explosive David Warner completed only the second Test double century of his career. Then, he carried his incredible run of form to smash his first-ever Triple century in International cricket. Fans expected him to reach 400-run mark but the skipper Tim Paine declared the innings.