Steve Smith on Wednesday etched his name into the record books once again as he matched Ricky Ponting’s long-standing record for the most ICC final appearances by an Australian cricketer during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

This marks Smith’s sixth appearance in an ICC tournament final across formats, that places him alongside Ponting, who also featured in six summit clashes during his storied international career. Unlike Smith, however, Ponting captained Australia in the majority of those encounters, playing a pivotal role in their dominance during the early 2000s.

Australia’s consistency in major tournaments, especially in Test cricket, has been particularly notable over the past four years. They emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship in 2023, defeating India in the final at The Oval. Now, they are vying to retain the mace and further cement their supremacy in the longest format.