• Steve Smith raised his bat in celebration after scoring his first run in the opening Test against Sri Lanka.

  • Smith attained a landmark that only a few players in history have reached.

SL vs AUS: Here’s why Steve Smith raised his bat after scoring his first run in the opening Test against Sri Lanka
Steve Smith raises his bat after scoring 1 run in 1st Test (Screengrab: 7cricket)

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The much-anticipated first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia began on January 29, 2025, at the iconic Galle International Cricket Stadium. Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in a match that promised plenty of drama, with a historic milestone on the horizon for one of the visitors’ key players, Steve Smith.

Australia’s solid start and early drama

The Australian innings began with Usman Khawaja and Travis Head opening the batting. The duo set a strong foundation for their team, with Head taking a particularly aggressive approach. He struck three boundaries in the first over itself, immediately putting Sri Lanka on the back foot. Sri Lanka missed a major opportunity when they failed to review what seemed like a plumb LBW against Head earlier in his innings.

Meanwhile, Khawaja remained solid at the other end, continuing to play well and dispatching the bad balls for boundaries. However, the first breakthrough came when Head was dismissed at 57 runs off just 40 balls featuring 10 fours and a six.

Soon, Marnus Labuschagne, who was struggling against the impressive Jeffrey Vandersay, was dismissed for 20 after being undone by the leg-spinner’s clever bowling.

Also READ: Key facts about Kamindu Mendis: The rising star of Sri Lankan cricket

Steve Smith raises his bat after scoring his first run

With Australia losing Labuschagne, in walked Smith, the stand-in captain for this Test. Smith faced his first delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya, and as soon as he took a quick single to get off the mark, he raised his bat in celebration. This moment was not just a casual acknowledgment of a run; it was a milestone in his career.

Reason behind Smith’s celebration

The reason for his celebration was that this single brought him to 10,000 runs in Test cricket, a remarkable achievement that only a few players in history have reached. Smith’s effort was met with a huge ovation from the crowd at Galle, and the Australian team members were also seen applauding the achievement.

Here is the video:

Also READ: SL vs AUS 2025, 1st Test: Top 3 key battles to watch out for

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About the Author:
AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.