Steve Smith’s Journey to 10,000 Test Runs: A Mix of Pressure and Anticipation
Australia’s batting stalwart, Steve Smith, recently opened up about the pressure he felt while approaching the 10,000-run milestone during the Test match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Needing just 38 runs to join legends like Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh, Smith fell agonizingly short, scoring 33 and 4, leaving him just one run away.
In an interview on SEN 1170 Breakfast, Smith candidly shared how the significance of the achievement weighed heavily on his mind. He admitted, “I don’t read too much into stats and stuff, but 10,000 is a bit of a different beast. It probably was (on my mind), to be honest.” The pressure even disrupted his sleep, humorously recalling, “All I could actually picture trying to sleep at night was the back of Josh Hazlewood’s shirt because he’s number 38.”
Despite the missed milestone, Smith emphasized the importance of Australia winning the match, saying, “It was probably playing on my mind more than any other game that I’ve played, to be honest. But fortunately, we were able to win that game in the end, so it didn’t really matter.”
Looking ahead, Smith is eager to reach the landmark during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, starting January 29. “It’s pretty special. I’d love to tick it off on the first day in Galle,” he expressed. For Smith, achieving this milestone represents the culmination of a lifelong dream, stating, “As a kid, I never would have dreamt of that. I dreamt of playing cricket for Australia, but to have been able to get to this mark, it’s a dream come true in a way.”
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