Steve Smith Becomes Fastest to 7500 Test Runs Ahead of Tendulkar, Sehwag

Australia’s Steve Smith has added one more test record to a growing list of accomplishments in the longest form of the game. On day 4 on the fourth test match against India at the Gabba in Brisbane, the Australian batting superstar reached 7500 test runs. He got to the figure during his second innings knock of 55 off 74 balls, becoming in the process the fastest to the mark. Smith achieved the feat in 139 innings, breaking the record jointly held by former India batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag who had taken 144 innings.

Smith’s Test Record

At the end of the Brisbane test, Smith has played 77 matches in all and scored 7540 runs at 61.80, with 27 centuries. Smith has always relished batting against India versus whom he has played 14 matches, scoring 1742 runs at 72.58, with 8 centuries. The current series was a mediocre one by Smith’s lofty standards against India. In the four matches played, the former Australia captain scored 313 runs at 44.71 with one ton and two fifties.

Among contemporary batsmen, Smith is second only to England skipper Joe Root in terms of test runs. Root has scored 8052 runs at 48.80 in 98 matches, including 17 tons. Virat Kohli is close on Smith’s heels with 7318 runs in 87 matches at 53.41, with 27 tons. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has scored 7115 runs in 83 matches at 54.31, with 24 tons.

Sachin Tendulkar who achieved 7500 runs in his 144th test innings went on to play 200 tests in which he scored 15921 runs at 53.78, with 51 tons. Virendra Sehwag who also took 144 innings to reach 7500 runs played 104 tests in which he scored 8586 runs at 49.34, with 23 tons.

The record for the fastest to 7500 test runs was held for many decades by West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers who did it in 147 innings. Sobers finished his career with 8032 runs in 93 matches at an average of 57.78 with 26 tons. Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara also got to 7500 test runs in 147 innings. Sangakkara went on to play 134 matches in which he scored 12400 runs at 57.40, with 38 tons. Another Indian batting legend, Rahul Dravid achieved the feat in 148 innings. Dravid ended his test career with 13288 runs in 164 matches at 52.31, with 38 tons.

Smith returned to test cricket in August 2019 during the Ashes series in England after serving a one-year ban. He has since made 1341 runs in 13 matches at 63.86, scoring 4 tons in the process.