Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that it is hard to argue against Steve Smith deserving to be considered the finest player of his generation on numbers alone. Smith who regained his form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India has soared to new heights in Test format during day 1 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka he smashed 10,000 Test runs, joining the exclusive ranks featuring Australian elites Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh to complete the feat.
After Smith's single to complete 10,000 Test runs Australia crowed that travelled to Galle applause the star and he also raised the bat to all corners of the ground.
After Smith, a famed member of the 'Fab Four,' added another feat to his name, Ponting feels the flamboyant batter Smith deserves to be considered the best player of his generation.
"Is he the best player of his generation? It's hard to argue against it. Joe Root is the other one now, and [Kane] Williamson's record is outstanding as well. Joe's last couple of years have elevated him right back up there, I think," Seven commentator Ponting said as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Five or six years ago, when this big four emerged, with [Virat] Kohli being one of those as well, Joe was probably down near the bottom part of that because he hadn't made the hundreds the other guys had made, but he's made 19 hundreds in the past four years," he added.
Smith is the fifth-fastest player to script the milestone to his name, achieving the feat in 205 innings, after Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara and Ponting.
"If you asked an Englishman they'd say Joe Root, if you asked an Aussie they'd say Steve Smith, and if you asked a Kiwi they'd say Kane Williamson. So it's a tough one, but on the numbers themselves it's pretty hard to argue against what he's done," Ponting said.
After completing the 10,000 Test run mark, Smith notched up his 35th Test century. Australia were on 330/2 after the stumps of day 1 in Galle.