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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Smith reflects on "phenomenal" innings as he makes Ashes history
Sam Kosack • January 6th, 2026 9:01 pm
History was made on Day 3 of the SCG Test as Steve Smith moved into second on the leaderboard for most runs ever in Ashes cricket.
Australia’s stand-in captain and batting wizard posted a score of 129* at the end of Day 3, having faced 205 balls across his many hours at the crease.
Smith is now only behind the legendary Don Bradman on the all-time leaderboard, surpassing England’s Jack Hobbs to stand alone in second.
Coming in to bat at five thanks to Michael Neser’s stand as nightwatchman, Smith’s 129 today takes him to 3682 career runs in Ashes, behind Bradman’s 5028.
After the day's play, Smith paid credit to the fact he passed the record on his home deck.
“I just love batting here,” Smith said post-game on Fox Cricket.
“Obviously, it's my home deck. I know the ground really well (and) when I get in here, I really like batting here.
“The pace of the wicket sort of suits the way I play, and I just love playing in front of this crowd.”
While Smith made it look easy, the aging SCG pitch made life difficult for batters and bowlers alike at times.
SEN’s Simon Katich praised Smith’s performance on the wicket, amidst struggles from other Australian batters not named Travis Head.
“As convincing as it always has been in terms of accumulating, it wasn't easy when he first went out there,” Katich said on SEN Cricket.
“They actually bowled quite well to him, compared to how they were going to Travis Head.
“They had a conventional field, they bowled a full length, but he got through that, and then once he got to that second new ball, that was going to be another tricky period.
“It wasn't (tricky) for him, he knew exactly what he had to do, and then he came through that and he played probably, for me, the shot of the day (with) that cover drive towards the end, where he just threw his hands through the line of the ball, and that was just glorious to watch.
“His record as captain, I think he averages 70 as captain, that's phenomenal.”
Australia resume play on Day 4 at 7/518, with a lead of 134.
SEN will have live coverage of every ball bowled throughout the remainder of the Test match on its radio network and on the SEN app.
The first ball will be bowled at 10am AEDT.
