Steve Smith has moved into third place on Australia's all-time Test run-scoring list. He passed former captain Steve Waugh during the opening Test against South Africa in Durban.
Smith scored 25 runs in the first innings. That was enough to push him past Waugh on the list.
Steve Smith Test Runs: The Numbers Behind the Record
Smith walked into the match with 10,920 runs from 125 Tests. He needed just eight more runs to overtake Waugh.
His innings took his career tally to 10,945. Waugh finished his career with 10,927 runs from 168 matches.
To put it plainly, Smith needed far fewer matches to reach the mark. Waugh played 168 Tests to get to 10,927. Smith got past that number in 125 Tests.
Who Is Still Ahead of Steve Smith?
Only two Australian players remain above Smith on the country's all-time Test run charts.
- Ricky Ponting — sits above Smith on the list
- Allan Border — also ahead of Smith
Smith now sits third. He has joined the small group of Australian batsmen at the top of the Test run-scoring charts.
Our Take: Why This Record Matters
In our view, this milestone says a lot about how consistent Smith has been in Test cricket. Passing a player like Waugh is not a small thing. Waugh was one of Australia's toughest batsmen and a long-serving captain.
The more telling number is the matches played. Smith reached this mark in 125 Tests, while Waugh needed 168. That gap shows how quickly Smith has piled up runs at the highest level.
For readers who follow cricket, the bigger question now is what comes next. With Ponting and Border still ahead of him, Smith has two more targets in front of him. Given his record so far, catching them is not out of reach.
This is also a reminder of how strong Australia's batting history is. Three of the top names on the list — Waugh, Ponting, and Border — were all former captains. Smith now stands alongside them.
What should fans take from this? Simply that Smith's place among Australia's greatest Test batsmen is now firmly set. The Durban innings was not a big one, but it was enough to change the record books.
