Paine made his Australian debut alongside Smith in 2010 at Lord\u2019s against Pakistan. Smith, initially chosen as a bowling all-rounder, scored 1 and 12 in his debut Test, batting at number 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Paine said everyone expected him to be just a leg spinner with the ability to bat competently at number 8 or 9, but no one thought he would define a generation of cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn his second Test at Headingley, Smith scored 70-odd. He was batting at nine and he was playing some shots that showed us that this guy is different.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was strange but it was good. We played a few ODIs and when the field was up, he would play some extraordinary shots and hit the ball to some quite strange areas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnly Greg Chappell at that stage thought he could become a world class batter. We all thought he\u2019d just be a leg spinner who would be a skilled 8 or 9 batter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cTo see what he\u2019s done since then has been absolutely extraordinary. We have been watching one of the greatest batters that has ever been seen,\" Paine told SEN1170.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith is on the verge of becoming the fourth Australian to achieve 10,000 career Test runs, joining the ranks of Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh. He is stranded at 9,999 runs after being dismissed in the second innings of the 5th Test against India in Sydney earlier this month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a long way to go if he wants. So long as the desire is still there, which I personally think it is. His reaction will be key after he scores 10,000 runs because it\u2019s always something that he has wanted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith is on the verge of becoming the fourth Australian to achieve 10,000 career Test runs, joining the ranks of Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh. He is stranded at 9,999 runs after being dismissed in the second innings of the 5th Test against India in Sydney earlier this month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n