Steve Smith breaks 96-yr-old record in Ashes

• Steve Smith surpasses Jack Hobbs, now second-highest Ashes run scorer with 3637 runs.
• Smith equals Hobbs with 27 scores of 50+ in Ashes, trailing only Don Bradman.
• Smith leads Australia in the fifth Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground, Day 3.

Steve Smith is leading Australia in the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series. On Day 3 of the match taking place at Sydney Cricket Ground, the right-handed batter went past England legend Jack

Hobbs’ tally of 3636 runs to become the second-highest run-getter in Ashes history. Hobbs, who holds the record of scoring the most hundreds (199) in first-class cricket, amassed a total of 3636 runs in 41 Ashes Tests for England against Australia from 1908 to 1930. Smith needed 84 runs in the ongoing Sydney Test to overtake Hobbs, and he achieved the objective during the final session of the third day’s play.

Smith scored his 84th run in the first innings of the Sydney Test by taking a single on the second ball of the 100th over bowled by Jacob Bethell.

The ongoing Test in Sydney is Smith’s 41st Ashes game for the Baggy Greens. He has slammed 12 fours and 15 half-centuries so far against England in the Ashes.

Only Don Bradman has scored more runs in the Ashes now than Smith.

During his 20-year-long Test career for Australia from 1928 to 1948, Bradman played 37 matches in the Ashes and amassed a total of 5028 runs.

Most runs in Ashes

PLAYER	COUNTRY	MATCHES	RUNS
Don Bradman	Australia	37	5028
Steve Smith	Australia	41*	3637*
Jack Hobbs	England	41	3636
Allan Border	Australia	42	3222
Steve Waugh	Australia	45	3173
David Gower	England	38	3037
Wally Hammond	England	33	2852

Before becoming the second-highest run-getter in Ashes history on Tuesday, Smith, who came out to bat at No. 5, also moved to the No. 2 position in the list of batters with the most 50+ scores in Ashes.

Smith has crossed the 50-run mark 27 times in Ashes now, which is equal to Hobbs’ tally.

Only Bradman is ahead of Smith in the list of batters with the most 50-plus scores in the Ashes.

Most 50-plus scores in Ashes

PLAYER	COUNTRY	MATCHES	100/50	50+ SCORES
Don Bradman	Australia	37	19/12	31
Steve Smith	Australia	41*	12/15*	27*
Jack Hobbs	England	41	12/15	27
Allan Border	Australia	42	7/19	26
Joe Root	England	39*	6/18	24

Bradman slammed 19 centuries and 12 half-centuries to finish his legendary career with 31 50-plus scores in Ashes for Australia against England.

If Smith manages to score a century in the ongoing match, then he will become the sole owner of the No. 2 position in the list of batters with the most 100s in Ashes. As of now, he is tied with Hobbs.