Steve Smith Crosses 11,000 Test Runs as Australia Collapse to 99 All Out
Steve Smith crossed 11,000 Test runs on October 21, 2026, during the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park in Gqeberha, becoming only the third Australian to reach the mark after Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Allan Border (11,174).
Smith reached the milestone off the first ball of the 39th over, pulling Marco Jansen away for runs to move past 11,000. It came in his 226th Test innings, making him the fifth-quickest batter in history to the landmark. He is also only the 12th player overall to score 11,000 or more Test runs.
The milestone came in difficult circumstances for Australia. South Africa had piled up 425 for 9 declared in their first innings, built around Temba Bavuma's career-best 179 and a record eighth-wicket stand of 183 with Simon Harmer. In reply, Australia collapsed to 99 all out, with South Africa enforcing the follow-on. Smith was the visitors' top scorer in that innings, making 28 off 88 balls with two fours, but could not stop the rest of the batting order from folding around him.
Smith had entered the series needing only 55 runs to reach 11,000, after surpassing Steve Waugh's tally of 10,927 to become Australia's third-highest Test run-scorer during the first Test in Durban, which Australia won by 214 runs. He has now moved to 11,000-plus in just 126 Tests, continuing one of the most efficient run-scoring careers in the sport's history, with a career average above 55.
Despite Smith's personal landmark, Australia find themselves under serious pressure in Gqeberha, following on against a South African total built on the back of two century partnerships in the lower order. The result of the match will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the three-match series, with Australia currently 1-0 up after their win in the series opener.