World number one Test batsman Steve Smith, on Saturday, became the fastest batsman to 7000 Test runs. He attained the feat on Day 2 of the Day-Night Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval.
The former Australia captain achieved the landmark in his 126th innings, surpassing the 73-year-old record of England’s Wally Hammond who had taken 131 innings to do the same.
Smith went past Bradman and smashed Hammond’s record in the process.#AUSvPAKhttps://t.co/FclJq4gR22
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2019
Coming into bat against Pakistan in the first innings, Smith was short of just 23 runs. Also, on his way to 7000 runs the 30-year-old has surpassed Don Bradman in the Test run-scoring list who finished his career with 6996 runs.
Former Indian batsmen Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar had played a total of 134 and 136 Test innings respectively to reach the milestone of 7000 runs.
West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers and former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara take the succeeding position in the list having reached the landmark in their 138th innings.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli also completed his 7000 Test runs in his 138th innings while playing against South Africa in the final Test of the three-match series in Ranchi.
Kohli is followed by Pakistan legend Mohammad Yousuf and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar who took 139 and 140 innings respectively.
In the ongoing pink-ball Test, Australian batsmen especially David Warner is having a feast. The opener has scored the second double hundred of his career and put his team in a commanding position. At Tea Warner and Smith were batting at 261 and 34 respectively.
It doesn’t get much better than that! 👏
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne’s mammoth stand have put our Aussies into a terrific position at the end of day one! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/clYW1N2LPz
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) November 29, 2019
Marnus Labuschagne also continued his dominating form and recorded his second century. He and Warner shared a partnership of 361 runs for the second wicket.