Australian batting maestro Steve Smith has opened up about the pressure of nearing the coveted 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket, describing it as a “different beast.” Smith fell agonizingly short of the landmark, scoring 37 runs during the fifth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Needing just one more run, the milestone weighed heavily on his mind throughout the game, which Australia won by six wickets to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after over a decade.
Speaking to SEN 1170 Breakfast, Steve Smith admitted that the milestone was more significant than he initially thought. “I don’t usually pay much attention to stats, but 10,000 runs is a bit of a different beast,” he said. “Honestly, it was on my mind. I was doing a lot of media leading up to the game because of how close I was to that mark, and it stuck with me.”
WATCH – Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals Why He Declined A Farewell Test
The number “38” became an unexpected fixation for Smith, representing the runs he needed to cross the threshold. So much so that he humorously linked it to teammate Josh Hazlewood’s jersey number.
Steve Smith admitted that the pressure of nearing 10,000 Test runs affected his performance during the Sydney Test against India. Despite falling short by just one run, Smith highlighted the significance of the milestone and its impact on his mindset.
— Golden Cricket Era (@GoldCricketEra) January 14, 2025
“All I could picture at night was the back of Josh Hazlewood’s shirt with the number 38 on it,” Steve Smith joked. “It’s strange how these things stick with you. It played on my mind more than any other game I’ve played, to be honest.”
Despite narrowly missing the milestone at his home ground in front of friends and family, Smith remains optimistic. Australia’s upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka, starting January 29 in Galle, offers another opportunity.
WATCH – Rashid Khan’s Magical Delivery Bowls Out Sam Hain In MI Cape Town’s SA20 Triumph
“It would’ve been special to achieve it in Sydney, but if we bat first in Sri Lanka, I hope to get it done on day one,” he shared. Reflecting on the journey, Smith expressed gratitude for his remarkable career. “As a kid, I never dreamt of this. I just wanted to play for Australia, but reaching this mark is a dream come true,” he said. Once achieved, Smith will join an elite group of just 15 cricketers, including only four Australians, to reach the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket, further cementing his legacy.
