Australia vs India 5th Test Review
Sutherland District Cricket Club | January 07, 2025
Sam Konstas became the youngest Australian Test player in an SCG Test at the age of 19 years 93 days, surpassing Gerry Hazlitt who made his Test debut at the age of 19 years 100 days in the 1st Test of the 1907-08 series against England.
Steve Smith started the Test on 9962 Test runs, building anticipation of him scoring another 38 runs to become the 15th player to reach 10000 Test runs. When he was dismissed for 33 in the first innings, he was left on 9995 runs, becoming the 4th player to be dismissed in the 9990s. When he was agonisingly out for 4 in the second innings, he became the 2nd player to be dismissed twice in the 9990s and the 2nd player to be left stranded on 9999 career runs!
Brian Lara started the 2nd Test vs England at Edgbaston in 2004 on 9885 runs. He was out for 95 in the first innings, taking him to 9980 runs and needing another 20 runs for 10000. In the second innings, he made 13 to leave him on 9993 runs. In the first innings of the 3rd Test at Old Trafford, he made a duck for his second dismissal in the 9990s. He finally scored 7 runs in the second innings, to finish the match on exactly 10000 runs.
Mahela Jayawardene started the 1st Test vs South Africa at Centurion in 2011-12 on 9954 runs. He scored 30 in the first innings and 15 in the second innings, to finish the match on 9999 runs. He subsequently scored 31 in the first innings of the 3rd Test at Kingsmead in Durban to pass the 10000 runs milestone.
Alastair Cook started the 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street in Durham in 2016 on 9980 runs. He scored 15 in the first innings to be on 9995 runs, before he made 47 not out in the second innings to go past 10000 runs.
When Steve reached 22 in the first innings, he became the 6th player to score 5000 Test runs in Australia, joining Ricky Ponting (7578 at 56.97), Allan Border (5743 at 45.94). Steve Waugh (5710 at 47.58), David Warner (5438 at 57.55) and Matthew Hayden (5210 at 57.88). At the end of the Test, Steve had scored 5015 runs in Australia at 59.70.
Steve now has a wait of 24 days from the end of the SCG Test until the start of the 1st Test vs Sri Lanka in Galle on 29 January for the opportunity to pass the 10000 runs mark. This won’t be the longest wait to reach the milestone. Jacques Kallis spent 51 days on 9988 runs before he scored 27 in his next innings. Rahul Dravid waited 62 days on 9920 runs before he scored 111 in his next innings. Younis Khan had the longest wait, being stuck on 9977 runs for 107 days before he finally scored 58 in his next innings.
Steve also took 2 catches in the first innings and 1 catch in the second innings, which took him to 195 catches in his 114th Test, only one behind Ricky Ponting who holds the Australian record with 196 catches (in 168 Tests).
