Steve Smith smashes cricket records in Ashes masterclass at Lord's

Steve Smith has become the second fastest player ever to reach 9,000 test runs after taking control of the second Ashes test against England at Lord's as he closes in on a century. Australia faced a tricky proposition of batting first in overcast conditions at Lord's, but David Warner and Usman Khawaja got off to a brilliant start.

And Australia never looked back as they piled on the runs to finish the day at 5-339 in a dominant position heading into day 2. Plenty of questions were posed of Smith over how he would bounce back after his Edgbaston performance, but the mercurial Aussie proved why he is the best test batter of his generation having become the first person to score 9,000 runs in under 100 test matches.

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He reached the milestone only two innings shy of Kumar Sangakkara's 172 innings. Smith ended on 85 not out and will be seeking his 32nd test century. Smith is just 15 runs short of Aussie cricket icon Steve Waugh's 32 Test centuries, with Ponting (41 Test tons) the only Aussie above them on the all-time list.

The 34-year-old came out to bat on a mission and settled into his rhythm early. Averaging just under 60 across his test career, Smith looked zoned in and left England no option but to play his game having reached the day's end unscathed.

Just like the did in the Test Championship final, Smith combined with the swashbuckling Travis Head to leave the host's questioning their tactics on day 1. David Warner, who looked solid for his 66 runs to open the innings, praised the duo's influence on the day's play and pinpointed to Head's counter-attack that took the game away from England under overcast conditions.

"He can take it away from you in that half-an-hour patch," Warner said. "Striking at over 100 on that wicket is exceptional. He applies the pressure back on to the to the bowling unit.

"They bowled pretty good to him first up. The ball was moving a little bit and then he countered. He just manages to hit them through backward-point or get on top of the ball that's rising off the wicket. He just finds a way."

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Cricket fans are running out of superlatives for Smith as he continues to break records on the biggest stage. Smith is closing in on England legend Jack Hobbs' record of second most Ashes runs, which would leave him second behind Sir Donald Bradman.

He also became just the fourth Australian ever to surpass 9,000 runs, behind legends Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.

Head appeared on track to challenge Victor Trumper's 95-ball century from 1902 as the fastest scored by an Australian in England. But he was stumped late in the day trying to take on Joe Root, when England's best-batter-turned-chief-spinner saw him coming.

Root (2-19) also claimed Cameron Green's wicket in the same over, caught at mid off after miscuing a pull shot. Even so, it was Australia's day in conditions made for England.

with AAP

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