MELBOURNE: Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins and experienced batter Steve Smith are on the brink of significant milestones ahead of their Boxing Day Test against India.
Smith, who ended his 25-innings century drought in the drawn Brisbane Test, boasts an impeccable record in the Boxing Day Tests as he has scored 1,093 runs in 11 matches at an average of 78.07, with four centuries and five fifties.
The right-handed batter needs 191 runs away to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket and become only the fourth Australian batter to achieve the landmark after Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Smith’s Test runs’ tally stands at 9809 after 112 Tests and 200 innings, coming at an average of 56.05 and featuring 33 centuries and 41 fifties.
On the other hand, skipper Cummins is also on the verge of adding another feather to his cap as the right-arm pacer is approaching the landmark of 500 international wickets.
The 31-year-old needs eight more wickets to become the seventh Australian bowler to take 500 international wickets after Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon.
The right-arm pacer has thus far taken 492 wickets at an average of 24.53, with best figures of 6/23 and a total of 14 five-wicket hauls.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
- Steve Smith
- Pat Cummins