When I saw Matthew Hayden play his last Test nearly ten years ago, I knew Australia had lost one of it’s all time great batsmen. But little was I to know that another batsmen would be rising rapidly to a point of surpassing Hayden even at his peak.
One of Hayden’s most memorable records was achieved from 2001-2005, where he would score 1000 Test runs in 5 consecutive years, something that has not been achieved by any other batsmen so far.
Yet, Smith, who started his career as a leg-spinner but developed into a batsman with an unorthodox batting style, could equal or even surpass Hayden’s record, in spite of all the initial doubt against him. In his latest Test at the WACA against England (the last Test to ever be played there), Smith has scored 239 runs to pass the 1000 run mark for the fourth straight year.
Smith started the streak back in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar series against India, where Smith would score 4 consecutive centuries to pass the 1000 run mark in 2014 and give himself a strong start in 2015. However, that supposed purple patch in form would not end there. He would end with 6 Test centuries in 2015, against India, the West Indies, England and New Zealand, and achieved his maiden double century (against England). Smith has scored 9 Test centuries since, and although this suggests a slight fall in form, Smith has actually elevated his level of play. His peak Test batting rating is 941, tied for fifth all time, which could be surpassed after his latest Test result.
Smith’s recent play has cemented his status as the best active batsman in the world, with his recent innings adding to his reputation amongst the best cricket players ever. His current Ashes campaign will be documented in the history books and should be treasured, as we will not see such a successful unorthodox batsman for a long time.
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