The veteran Australia batsman Steve Smith posted a heartfelt message for his fans and followers on social media after being named as ICC’s Test player of the decade earlier this week. The 31-year-old batsman produced some staggering numbers in this decade which is why he was chosen ahead of India captain Virat Kohli, who bagged the ODI and cricketer of the decade awards.

In the last decade, Steve Smith has amassed 7040 runs from 69 Tests at an average of 65.79 which included 26 centuries, 28 fifties, and 3 Ashes double hundreds. These numbers are nothing sort of astonishing, considering that he was also banned from international cricket for a year in 2018.

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Tweeting about the same, Smith wrote: “Humbled to be named Test player of the decade. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career so far. I’ve had a lot of fun, faced many challenges, learnt so much and now I can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store for me.”

Humbled to be named Test player of the decade. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career so far. I’ve had a lot of fun, faced many challenges, learnt so much and now I can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store for me 🏏 🙏 pic.twitter.com/wdWWNynnce

— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) December 31, 2020

Steve Smith has been a part of many breathtaking series’ but the 2019 Ashes can be called his best. He had amassed as many as 774 runs in 7 Test innings, singlehandedly scoring 35.5% of Australia’s runs in the 5-match series despite missing one Test due to a concussion. The series ended 2-2 with Australia retaining the Ashes urn thanks to Smith’s exploits.

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However, Smith has been struggling a little bit in the longest format of the game especially in the ongoing series against India in which he has managed just 10 runs – 1, 1*, 0, 8 – in two Tests so far. He has the lowest batting average amongst his team members in the series and he will be looking to correct it before its too late.