'Unstoppable' Steve Smith breaks 73-year cricket record
Steve Smith has become the fastest Test batsman to reach 7000 Test runs, breaking a 73-year record to claim the honour.
Smith reached the 7000-run milestone on Saturday afternoon in Adelaide with his 23rd run against Pakistan as Australia raced to a massive first-innings score.
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Smith has taken just 126 innings to reach the mark, getting there in five faster than Englishman Walter Hammond who has held the record since 1946.
Smith's innings also took him past Don Bradman's career-mark of 6996 runs, lifting him to the 11th most prolific scorer in Australian Test history.
The former Aussie captain’s latest remarkable feat led to a flood of tributes on social media.
Another record broken for the outstanding Steve Smith! @Domaincomau | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/pjmEKY7BKk
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2019
Steve Smith, the finest batsman at present. another day, another record. what a player.
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 30, 2019
BEST IN THE WORLD
MODERN DAY DON
GOAT, LEGEND, BEAST, UNSTOPPABLE ❤️❤️🐐— 103.66 (@AussieFan_) November 30, 2019
He is an exceptional genius. Will potentially be the GOAT. Proud that he’s an Aussie. Well done champ @stevesmith49
— Meegz Redd (@Meegs14red) November 30, 2019
The greatest and the grandest Steve Smith has once again broken yet record by cruising past 7000 runs in considerably less innings than anyone. Congratualtions Smithy! Waiting for the records of 8K, 9K..... 👏🏻
— 🎄Jim Williams🎄🎅🏻 (@jimwills21) November 30, 2019
Fastest batsman to 7000 test runs in just 126 innings!! Broken the 76 year old record held by Walter Hammond well done Steve Smith you are a champion!! #AUSvPAK
— टुईटर मन्त्री™ (@Rocks_Suman1) November 30, 2019
Fastest player to 7,000 Test runs. @stevesmith49 breaks 73-year record #Smith #Bradman 🏏 pic.twitter.com/p7YMxAFS5C
— Charlie Suds (@charlie_suds) November 30, 2019
Bradman, meanwhile, had just 70 innings for 29 centuries in a career when World War II forced a break while he was still in his prime.
Still, it hasn't stopped the comparisons between the pair, with former Australian captain Allan Border leading the charge earlier in November.
"In straight out numbers (he's the best since Bradman)," he told AAP at the start of the summer.
"He has just been incredible. Not just in the Ashes but his whole career has been incredible.
"From what I understand, Bradman's technique wasn't one you would coach a kid.
"He just had a special way of doing things. And Smith is exactly the same. It's not the technique you would want to coach kids."
Bradman and Smith have the two highest averages in Test history for those who have played more than 20 innings, with Smith's 64.22 second to Bradman's 99.94.
FASTEST TO 7000 TEST RUNS
* Steve Smith - 126 innings
* Walter Hammond - 131
* Virender Sehwag - 134
* Sachin Tendulkar - 136
* Garfield Sobers - 138
* Kumar Sangakkara - 138
* Virat Kholi - 138
With AAP
