Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has made a bold statement, declaring Steve Smith as the second-greatest player in Australian cricket history, just behind the legendary Don Bradman. Smith, who is set to play his 100th Test match, will be aiming for success in the upcoming third Ashes Test against England in Leeds.
This milestone will make him the 14th Australian cricketer to achieve a century of Test appearances. With an impressive record of 9113 runs in 99 Tests, at an outstanding average of 59.56 and a strike rate of 53.78, Smith’s performances have been remarkable. He has notched up 32 centuries, including four double hundreds, along with 37 half-centuries.
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During an interview with Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail, Ricky Ponting acknowledged the exceptional abilities of Steve Smith and positioned him as the second-greatest batsman in Australian cricket history. When asked about Smith’s upcoming 100th Test match at Headingley, Ponting was prompted to assess his standing among the Australian greats.
“If it all ended tomorrow he’d be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman. Statistically, you cannot argue with that. He’s achieving things so quickly. Even at Lord’s, he became the second-fastest in history to reach 9,000 Test runs”, said Ponting.
After his exceptional performance in the second Ashes Test, Steve Smith was awarded as the Player of the Match. As he approaches his 100th Test appearance, Smith is eager to replicate his outstanding form in Leeds and secure a series-deciding triumph. Expressing his aspirations before the match, Smith revealed that winning an Ashes series in England has always been a cherished goal of his. He added that achieving this milestone in his 100th game would be an incredibly special achievement.
It is something that has been on my bucket list, to win an Ashes series in England. What a way to top it off, if I could do it in my 100th game. It would be special for sure”, Smith said.
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