Steve Smith acknowledges the crowd after scoring a hundred against Sri Lanka in Galle. Photo: AP Steve Smith acknowledges the crowd after scoring a hundred against Sri Lanka in Galle. Photo: AP

Steven Smith created history as he became the joint second-fastest to 10,000 Test runs in terms of matches played, achieving the feat when he scored his first run on Day 1 of the series opener against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday. Smith went on to register a magnificent 141, putting Australia in a commanding position in the match. He became only the fourth Australian batter and the 15th overall to reach Club 10K. (More Cricket News)

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We look back at the numbers that define Smith’s colossal achievement of entering Club 10K.

205 - The number of innings Smith took to reach 10,000 Test runs

Smith became the fifth fastest (in terms of innings) to reach 10,000 Test runs, crossing the landmark in his 205th innings. Lara, Tendulkar and Sangakkara, all reached Club 10K in their respective 195th innings while Ponting made it there in his 196th.

4 – The fourth Australian to reach the 10K club

Smith became just the fourth Australian batter to cross the milestone of 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Allan Border, Steven Waugh and Ricky Ponting are the other three Australians to have achieved the feat.

15 – The 15th batter to Club 10K in Test history

Overall, Smith became just the 15th batter in Test history to reach the milestone of 10000 runs. Apart from the four Australians, the list includes three Indians (Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid), two Englishmen, Sri Lankans and West Indians each (Alastair Cook and Joe Root; Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena; Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara) and one batter each from South Africa (Jacques Kallis) and Pakistan (Younis Khan).

56.33 – Second-highest Test average in 10K Club

Smith’s batting average of 56.33 is the second-best amongst the 15 batters in the 10K Club. Only Sangakkara with an average of 57.4 is higher than Smith.

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3 – Smith’s average third-highest amongst batters at time of crossing 10K runs

Smith’s average of 56.33 is the third-highest amongst all 15 batters in the 10K Club at the end of the innings when they crossed the milestone. Ponting had an average of 58.72 when he reached the milestone of 10000 runs while Tendulkar is at number two with a corresponding average of 57.61.

35 – Second-most Test hundreds for Australia after Ponting

Smith has registered 35 Test hundreds in his Test career which are the second-highest for an Australian only after Ponting (41). Overall, Smith is seventh on the list after Tendulkar, Kallis, Ponting, Sangakkara, Root and Dravid.

5.86 – Best frequency of scoring a hundred in the 10K Club

Smith has registered 35 Test hundreds in 205 innings which means that he has scored a ton every 5.86 innings on an average. This is the best frequency of scoring a hundred amongst the 10K Club. Sangakkara, who scored a ton every 6.13 innings is at number two on this list.

85.36% - Second-highest 100/50 percentage in the 10K Club

Smith has scored 35 Test hundreds and 41 fifties in his Test career which makes for a 100/50 percentage of 85.36%. Only Younis Khan betters Smith on the list – the Pakistani batter registered 34 hundreds and 33 fifties with a corresponding percentage of 103.03%. Kallis (77.58%), Gavaskar (75.55%) and Tendulkar (75%) complete the top 5.

75.81 – Smith’s average in his Golden Period between 2014 and 2017

Smith had an aggregate of 5004 runs (nearly 50% of his career runs) in the 44 Tests between 2014 and 2017 at an average of 75.81. He registered 21 of his career 35 hundreds during this period. Smith was the best batter, and by some distance in this time-frame.

78 - Smith had an average of 55+ in a record 78 Tests

Smith has a Test average of 55+ in his last 78 matches which is a record for the most consecutive Tests with an average of greater than 55! The last instance of Smith ending a Test with an average of less than 55 was against West Indies at Hobart in December 2015. The previous record was held by Gary Sobers who played 74 consecutive Tests with an average of 55+. Tendulkar is at number three with a 65-match streak.

69.68 – Third-best batting average in first innings in Test history

Smith has a magnificent record batting first for Australia in Test cricket. He has scored a whopping 7317 runs in 114 such innings at an average of 69.68 – the third-best average after Don Bradman (97.85) and Everton Weekes (71.43). 31 of his career 35 hundreds have come in the first innings.

56.01 & 57.92 – Smith’s batting average in Ashes & Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Smith has excelled in the two most prestigious Test rivalries during his career. He is the third-highest run-getter in Ashes history with an average of 56.01 and 12 hundreds – the joint-second highest with Jack Hobbs. Smith has also raised his game against India – arguably the toughest opponent during his career – and is the second-highest scorer for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an aggregate of 2201 runs in 23 matches at an average of 57.92 with 10 hundreds.gold99