Virat Kohli was not mentioned in the conversation as former Australia captain Ricky Pon000ting debated who could be the "best player of this generation." The Aussie legend sided with Steve Smith just moments after he reached the milestone of 10,

For former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, it is hard to argue against Steve Smith deserving to be considered the finest player of his generation on numbers alone. On the opening day of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka,

On Steve Smith's achievement, Ponting complimented him, saying that he is in the contention for being the best batter of the current generation. England's Joe Root, he maintained, was also in the reckoning.

Aussie cricket great Ian Healy has boldly declared Steve Smith might play on until age 40, which could see him eventually surpass Ricky Ponting and become Australia's greatest run-scorer. Smith joined the 10,

Ricky Ponting left out Virat Kohli and called Steve Smith 'best player of the generation' after he scored his 35th Test hundred at Galle. Ponting also mentioned Joe Root and Kane Williamson as players who are on par with Smith but omitted Kohli from the list.

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent months. While one has had to return to domestic cricket after 12 years following a dramatic loss of form, the other just brought up his 35th Test hundred and became the latest batter to join the 10,

Steve Smith entered the prestigious list of players with 10,000 Test runs, a feat only achieved by 14 other cricketers in world cricket before the Australian legend. Smith achieved the monumental feat during Day 1 of the ongoing Australia vs Sri Lanka Test at Galle on January 29 (Wednesday).

Read about what Ricky Ponting had to say on Steve Smith after the latter entered the 10,000-run club against Sri Lanka on Day 1 of the first Test of the series, only on.

Steve Smith completed his 10,000 Test runs during the Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test match at Galle International Stadium in Galle.