Ashes 2023: Steve Smith becomes second quickest to reach 9000 Test runs

Another day, another record for Steve Smith. The Australia vice-captain breached the 9000 run mark on the first day of the second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s.
Scoring a half century, Smith became only the fourth Australian ever to score 9000 runs in the longest format of the game behind Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
Smith however did so in his own magnificent way as he became the second quickest to do so in 174 innings, behind Kumar Sangakkara (172).
Having taken a 1-0 lead in the five Test match series and won the World Test Championship title ahead of the same, Australia were put in to bat first in the second Test on Wednesday.
While David Warner regered a half century after Usman Khawaja fell cheap, Smith was the chief orchestrator for the visitors on Day 1.

The former Australia skipper remained unbeaten at 85 off 149 deliveries as Australia posted 339/5 at Stumps.