Steve Smith: Australia batter passes 10,000 Test runs

On the first day of Australia's first Test match against Sri Lanka, Australian batsman Steve Smith surpassed the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket. The 35-year-old player had accumulated 9,999 runs before the first match of the two-Test series. He chose to bat first after winning the coin toss, captaining the side in the absence of Pat Cummins.

Smith walked to the crease after the dismissals of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. He gently pushed his first ball towards mid-on for a single, becoming the 15th batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs. Smith is the fourth Australian to achieve this milestone, following Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting.

"Luckily, that one went into the gap, and it was nice to get that one," Smith, who was unbeaten on 64 at the tea break in Galle, told Australia's 7Cricket. "It's nice to get that milestone out of the way," he added. Smith reaching this milestone undoubtedly adds a new luster to his career.

India's Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test runs, with 15,921, while Ponting is second with 13,378. England's Joe Root is fifth with 12,972, having surpassed compatriot Alastair Cook, who is sixth with 12,472. These statistics highlight the magnificent achievements of the great batsmen in cricket.