In Test cricket, breaking into the record books is never easy, especially for wicketkeeper-batters who juggle two major roles in every match.
But England’s Jamie Smith did just that on July 11, 2025, during the third Test against India at Lord’s. The 24-year-old reached 1000 Test runs in just 21 innings, equaling a world record that puts him alongside South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and ahead of several legends.
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Smith only needed three runs at the start of Day 2 to reach the milestone and reached it in style with a boundary off Mohammed Siraj.
The Sporting News takes a look at the fastest wicket-keepers to score 1000 runs in Test cricket history by number of innings.
Fastest wicketkeeper-batters to score 1000 Test runs by innings
Jamie Smith became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to reach 1000 runs in 21 innings, a record first set by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.
He now shares that top spot, while leaving behind others like Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal and England’s own Jonny Bairstow, who reached the mark in 22 innings.
More: Can Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar's Test run tally?
Here’s the list of the fastest to 1000 Test runs among wicketkeepers (by innings):
| Name | Innings | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | 21 | South Africa |
| Jamie Smith | 21 | England |
| Dinesh Chandimal | 22 | Sri Lanka |
| Jonny Bairstow | 22 | England |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 23 | Sri Lanka |
| AB de Villiers | 23 | South Africa |
Smith also took the fewest balls to reach the milestone, doing so in just 1303 deliveries. That puts him ahead of some of the quickest strikers among wicketkeepers, including Sarfaraz Ahmed and Adam Gilchrist.
How does Smith’s form compare to current stars like Rishabh Pant?
Smith’s purple patch in this series has been crucial for England. After scoring 40 and 44* in the first Test, he hammered 184 and 88 in the second.
He now holds the record for the highest Test score by an English wicketkeeper, going past Alec Stewart’s mark.
MORE: Which Indian batters have scored a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground?
Rishabh Pant, India’s top wicketkeeper-batter, took 27 innings to reach 1000 Test runs. While Pant remains known for his explosive style and match-winning knocks, Smith has shown he can score big consistently and quickly.