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WATCH: Steve Smith joins elite list after reaching 10,000 run-mark vs Sri Lanka in Galle

Australian cricket captain joins special list of players after reaching the 10,000 run mark in Test cricket with a single on day one of Galle Test versus Sri Lanka

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Steve Smith reaches 10,000 runs in Test cricket

Steve Smith Photograph: (X)

Australian skipper Steve Smith became the fifth-fastest batter to score ten thousand runs in the history of Test cricket. The feat was achieved on the opening day of the first Test match against Sri Lanka, which is being played in Galle. Smith ended the series against India, falling short of the magical mark by just one run. 

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The historic feat came in the second ball of the 31st over when Smith flicked the ball and set off for a quick single. Once the run was completed, there was huge cheer across the ground as the 35-year-old acknowledged the fans on reaching the mark. For the record, Brian Lara is the fastest batter to score 10,000 Test runs, having achieved the mark in 195 innings. 

Sachin Tendulkar joined the former West Indian skipper by reaching the landmark in 195 against Pakistan in Kolkata. Kumar Sangakkara also took 195 innings to reach the mark, which came against Australia in Melbourne. Ricky Ponting had scored his 10,000th Test run against the West Indies in 2008 in his 196th inning. 

Travis Heads leads Australia to flying start before lunch 

It was Australia who batted first after Steve Smith won the toss. Travis Head got things going with a quickfire fifty that came off 35 balls. This was Head’s second fifty while opening the batting for Australia in Test cricket. 

The 31-year-old survived a strong appeal by the home team for LBW but surprisingly, Sri Lanka didn’t go for the review. When the replays came on the screen, it was seen that the batter was out. 

Prabath Jayasuriya got the key wicket of Head when he dismissed the batter for 57. Marnus Labuschagne continued his poor form with the bat as he was out for 20 to Jeffrey Vandersay caught by skipper Dhananjaya De Silva. 

Usman Khawaja, who had a poor series against India, managed to notch up his fifty just before lunch. The veteran batter took a single in the fourth ball of the 25th over to signal his return to form with the bat. 

Steve Smith