Steve Smith’s Bat Dominates Lord’s and the World Test Championship Final
Records tumbled and history books got a fresh update as Steve Smith once again proved why bowlers worldwide have sleepless nights facing him. On a tense, overcast Day 1 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s, Smith steadied a wobbling Australian ship with a composed 66 off 112 balls. But what really sent ripples through the cricket world wasn’t just the runs scored in tricky conditions—it was the longstanding records he quietly knocked over along the way.
Walking out with Australia teetering and the South African quicks breathing fire under heavy clouds, Smith looked unfazed. The pitch was offering plenty to the pacers, the Lords crowd was buzzing, and wickets around him kept falling like dominos—14 in total that day. None of it rattled Smith. He nudged, defended, and dispatched anything loose, ultimately falling to Aiden Markram after his 66 had dragged Australia to a respectable 212.
By the end of the day, Smith had rewritten the record for the most runs scored by an overseas player at Lord’s. Until now, that title belonged to some of the sport’s greatest—think Don Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Warren Bardsley. Smith’s six-match, 10-innings run spree at Lord’s now stands at a massive 591 runs, averaging 59.10. For context, Bradman’s name used to top this pile. Now, it’s Smith’s relentless consistency at the self-proclaimed ‘home of cricket’ that sets the benchmark.
But Smith’s Lord’s magic isn’t just about big numbers. He’s now got three half-centuries and two centuries here, his highest being a mammoth 215. That haul of five fifty-plus scores puts him in rare company, matching Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the most such scores at Lord’s by a visiting batter. Every innings here cements Smith’s reputation as a player who relishes the biggest stages and the toughest conditions.
WTC Final Heroics and New Milestones
While Smith’s numbers at Lord’s are jaw-dropping, he’s been an even bigger force in the young history of WTC finals. With his WTC final tally now at 221 runs, he’s become the highest run-scorer in WTC finals history, overtaking Ajinkya Rahane's previous total of 199. His efforts have placed him well ahead of other big names—Travis Head (192), Rohit Sharma (122), and Virat Kohli (120)—all no slouches themselves.
An interesting footnote? That’s two 50+ scores in WTC finals for Smith, the only player who’s managed more than one in these big matches. The pressure of an ICC final just seems to bring out his best, no matter the bowling attack or conditions.
Stepping back further, Smith now trails only Virat Kohli in another elite list: most 50+ scores in ICC knockout matches. Kohli leads with 10; Smith is nipping at his heels with seven, an impressive feat given the nature and rarity of knockout games. Unlike most players, the big fights and roaring crowds light a spark in Smith, and the stats back it up.
Steve Smith might already be known as one of the best of his era, but every time he walks out at Lord’s or onto the WTC final stage, he seems to find yet another gear—and another record just waiting to fall. Cricket’s record books are full of legends, but right now, they’re making a little extra room for another: Steve Smith.
