- By Himanshu Badola
- Thu, 06 Jul 2023 03:11 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
JE Sports Desk: Australia's star batter Steve Smith will take another milestone to his name as he features in his 100th Test match when he takes the field for the third Ashes Test against England at Headingley in Leeds.
Smith will become the 15th Australian and 41st overall player to achieve the proud feat.
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The right-handed batter who is regarded as one of the most complete Test batters of this generation, has 9113 runs to his name at an average of 59.56 including 32 centuries and 37 half-centuries in 99 matches so far.
He will also be joining the elite club as one of only three players in the history to have played 50 or more Tests and averaged at least 59.
"Proud is the word I suppose," said Smith when asked about his feeling about the milestone. "The longevity I have had in the game and what I have been able to achieve across those 100, it's been a great journey. I have loved every moment of it. To walk out in a couple of days' time at Headingley for my 100th, I am extremely excited," he said.
Smith will mark his only second appearance in a Test match at Leeds on Thursday with the first being way back in 2010. He wasn't part of the team when Ben Stokes played a heroic knock to win a memorable game for England in 2019.
"Yeah, I didn't enjoy that at all. Just sitting and watching the Ben Stokes show," Smith recalled.
"That almost occurred again in this game... to be able to walk out at Headingley, it will be a great moment for me to tick off 100 games. Not too many people have done that in the Australian set up. There have only been 15 or 16. To tick off that number is pretty special," he added.
The 34-year-old made his debut in the longer format in 2010 against Pakistan. He was included in the team as a bowling all-rounder and had to bat lower down the order.
"I probably didn't feel like I could make it until my fourth hundred, which was at Centurion against the South African lineup of Morkel, Steyn, Philander, and McLaren. Particularly the first three, they were tremendous bowlers. They had great careers. And to be able to score a hundred against them gave me a lot of confidence to know I belong at this level.
"That was probably the first time I felt it. From there I was pretty confident in my ability. I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted to play. It was just playing the game and enjoying it and trying to score as many runs as I can," he recollected.
Pat Cummins' side are 2-0 up in the series and will look to don the famous trophy once again as they have been the dominating side in the series so far.
"I have said it for a long time, 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 further said.