Thu Jan 30 13:29:31 IST 2025: ## Aussie Smith Reaches 10,000 Test Runs, Surpasses Kohli’s Away Century Record

**Galle, Sri Lanka** – Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith achieved a monumental milestone on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. He became the fourth Australian, and fifth fastest overall by innings, to reach 10,000 Test runs, reaching the five-figure mark with a characteristic flick to mid-on. The achievement was met with thunderous applause from his teammates.

Smith’s milestone was made even more impressive by the fact that he also notched his 35th Test century in the process, his 17th away from home. This surpasses India’s Virat Kohli’s previous record of 16 away centuries, cementing Smith’s position as the leading Test batsman for away tons.

Smith, who narrowly missed the 10,000-run mark in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, currently boasts a Test batting average of over 55, second only to Kumar Sangakkara among those who have passed 10,000 runs.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes Smith’s incredible numbers make a strong case for him being the best batsman of his generation, ahead of rivals Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. Ponting highlighted Smith’s consistency and recent surge in form by Joe Root as key factors in this assessment. He even noted that Root’s performance in the last four years has catapulted him back into contention for the title. The debate over who truly holds this prestigious title is sure to continue.

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