Steve Smith’s amazing journey from a leg-spinner to world’s elite batter

Dubai: Australian captain Steve Smith made history on Wednesday, scoring his 35th Test century and also becoming only the fourth Australia batter to touch the 10,000 run mark in Tests during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.

Smith ended the first day of the Galle Test unbeaten at 104, involved in a 195-run partnership with Usman Khawaja 147 not out. Earlier, Australia had opted to bat first after winning the toss. Travis Head (57 in 40 balls, with 10 fours and a six) opened the innings with Khawaja and had a 92-run opening stand. Marnus Labuschagne (20 in 50 balls, with two fours) also contributed some runs before Smith and Khawaja joined forces and took Australia to 330/2 at the end of day one.

Fourth Australian to reach the milestone

In 115 Tests and 205 innings, Smith has scored 10,103 runs at an average of 56.44. He has scored 35 centuries and 41 fifties, with the best score of 239.

He is the fourth Australian after Ricky Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174) and Steve Waugh (10,927) to reach the 10,000 run mark and overall 15th player ever.

With 35 Test centuries, Smith has overtaken the likes of Younis Khan (Pakistan), Brian Lara (West Indies), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) and Sunil Gavaskar (India), who all have 34 Tests each.

Former Australian batter Adam Gilchrist hailed Smith’s success, calling him a “master craftsman” and expressing admiration for his journey from a leg-spinner to a top-class batter.

Smith: Epitome of grit and determination

Smith’s illustrious Test career, which saw him turn into an epitome of determination, grind and consistency, from the days of being rated as a successor to late leg-spinner Shane Warne.

Gilchrist expressed wonder at this same journey and hailed the veteran for evolving his game so well.

“I think part of what is so amazing is how it started and how he got into the team at No 8 or 9 bowling leg-spin, when we were still in the hunt for a replacement for Warnie, and (there were questions as to) where he was going to be that option? That is what I find quite stunning about his career, how it started,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.

Master craftsman and one of Australia's greatest

“The way he evolved his own game and worked at that, it was completely different to everyone else, and that speaks volumes.”

Gilchrist went on to hail Smith as “one of the greatest” batters for Australia.

“From a mental capacity and the psychology of his batting, I find that the most fascinating to watch. He is a master craftsman and he is one of our greatest,” Gilchrist added.

Smith survived an early reprieve in his knock when Jayasuriya grassed a sharp return catch in the same over, a chance Sri Lanka would come to rue.

Khawaja reached his 16th Test hundred — his maiden ton on Sri Lankan soil — after a 17-match drought since his Ashes century in June 2023.

Khawaja survives anxious moments

The ton came with a flick off fast bowler Asitha Fernando to the fine leg boundary, a stroke brimming with elegance and relief.

The 38-year-old had a few heart-in-mouth moments when a couple of edges fell just short of fielders and a reprieve on 74 when he nicked Jayasuriya to the keeper, but Sri Lanka chose not to review the on-field decision.

With three specialist spinners in the Australian XI, the tourists hold all the aces, especially with the pitch expected to deteriorate as the game progresses.

— With inputs from agencies