3 Test records Steve Smith created in 2019

2017 was a dream year for Steve Smith, as the Australian batsman amassed 1305 runs in 11 Tests with six centuries and three half-centuries. He was rightly adjudged the winner of the ‘ICC Test Player of the Year 2017’.

High on his 2017 success, Smith entered 2018 with a lot of expectations. However, a ‘brain fade’ decision in the Newlands Test match against South Africa changed his cricketing career forever.

After serving a ban of 12 months from international cricket for 'Sandpaper-gate', Smith was finally back in Australian colors at the ICC World Cup 2019. And even though he failed to score a century in the tournament, he scored 379 runs in 10 matches with four 50+ scores.

The Ashes, however, was always the primary target for the Australian cricket team. Since the series also marked the return of Smith to Test cricket, there were massive expectations on his shoulders.

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As always, Smith lived up to the expectations by having a stellar series. And in the process of returning to international cricket, Smith created quite a few records.

Let us look at three such records created by Smith in Tests this year.

#3 Fastest batsman to reach 7,000 runs

Steve Smith - Fastest to reach 7000 Test runs

After a long gap of 16 months, Smith finally resumed his Test career in the first Test of Ashes 2019. The former Australian skipper was expected to replicate his Ashes 2017 form in the marquee series, and he lived up to the expectations by scoring twin centuries (144 & 142) in his comeback Test.

Smith's purple patch continued throughout the series as he scored 774 runs in just seven innings with a Bradman-esque average of 110.57.

With David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne dominating the Test series against Pakistan, Smith’s contribution was rarely required. But even though he scored a mere 40 runs in two innings, he managed to create the world record of becoming the fastest batsman to reach 7000 Test runs in the second match of that series.

Since Smith’s hunger for runs is well-known, we can expect him to break the record of fastest to 8,000 Test runs too in the coming year.

#2 1st batsman to score 10 consecutive 50+ scores against the same opposition

Smith - 2019 Ashes series

Every great cricketer has an affinity towards a particular opposition in specific formats. In matches featuring their favorite opponent, these players rarely if ever look ‘out of form’. They seem almost destined to score big whenever they come across their bunny team.

There is no doubt that England are the favorite opposition for Smith in Test cricket.

Smith has been building his dominance over England ever since the 2013 away Ashes series. He created a run-scoring streak during the 2017 home Ashes series, which extended until this year’s Ashes.

With scores of 239, 76, 102* 83, 144, 142, 92, 211, 82 and 80, Smith became the first batsman in the history of Test cricket to score 10 consecutive 50+ scores against a single opponent.

The England bowlers looked clueless whenever they came up against Smith in the Ashes. However, his 50+ streak ended with a rare blip in the final match of this year’s Ashes, where he was dismissed for 23.

#1 1st batsman to score 500+ runs in 3 consecutive Ashes series

Smith has scored 500+ runs in three consecutive Ashes series

As mentioned earlier, Smith loves England in Test cricket and rarely fails with the bat against them. In fact, his maiden Test century came against England in the 2013 away Ashes series. He hasn't looked back since.

Even though Australia failed to win the Ashes in 2015, Smith topped the run-scoring charts by smashing 508 runs in five matches with a high score of 215.

With the retirement of Michael Clarke, Smith became the captain of Australia and led his team in the 2017 home Ashes series. As expected, he led from the front by scoring 687 runs in seven innings, with three centuries and two half-centuries. His heroics helped Australia win the series 4-0 and regain the urn.

Even though Smith missed a year of Test cricket, he started the 2019 Ashes series from where he left off in 2017. His twin centuries in the opening match laid the platform for Australia to regain the urn in England.

The entire cricketing nation was mesmerized with his form in this year’s Ashes as he scored 774 runs in just seven innings. In the process, he became the first player to score 500+ runs in three consecutive Ashes series.

It will not be a massive surprise if Smith continues his hot streak in the next Ashes.