Ricky Ponting picks this cricketer as Australia’s ‘second-greatest batsman’ after Don Bradman

livemint.com:

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, speaking with Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail, hailed Smith's exceptional batting prowess and ranked him as the second-greatest batsman in Australian cricket history after the legendary Don Bradman. Reflecting on Smith's accomplishments, Ponting praised his rapid rise to success, noting his swift journey to becoming the second-fastest player to reach 9,000 Test runs. Steve Smith is set to achieve a momentous milestone as he gears up to play his 100th Test match.

The upcoming clash between Australia and England in the third Ashes Test, scheduled for July 6-10 in Leeds, provides the stage for Smith's landmark appearance. Once the renowned Australian cricketer takes the field, he will join an esteemed group of only 14 Australian players who have reached the century mark in Test cricket. “If it all ended tomorrow, he'd be the second-greatest batsman Australia have produced after Don Bradman.

Statistically, you cannot argue with that. He's achieving things so quickly. Even at Lord's, he became the second-fastest in history to reach 9,000 Test runs," said Ponting.

Throughout his illustrious career spanning 99 Tests, Smith has consistently displayed exceptional batting prowess. His remarkable record boasts an impressive tally of 9,113 runs, scored at an average of 59.56 and a strike rate of 53.78.  This remarkable feat includes an astonishing 32 centuries, four double hundreds, and 37 half-centuries. Notably, Smith's highest individual score in Test matches is 239, achieved against England during the 2017-18 Ashes series.