Steve Smith admits falling just one run short of reaching 10,000 career Test runs "hurt" during the fifth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG.
Smith required just five runs in Australia's second innings in Sydney to reach the milestone, but was dismissed for four, with the result of the match still hanging in the balance, in devastating scenes.
And while Australia went on to win the fifth Test by six wickets, claiming back the Border Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years, his own personal failure stung.
"One run hurt a little bit at the time, but it's all good," Smith said on Friday.
"It would've been nice to tick that off in front of all my friends and family at my home ground, but hopefully I can knock it off first innings in Galle."
Prasidh Krishna celebrates dismissing Steve Smith at the SCG. Getty
The batting veteran, who notched up his 34th Test century during India's tour of Australia, confessed that he put too much pressure on himself to reach the 10,000 at home.
"I probably let it wander (on my mind) too much during the game. It's a cool milestone to tick off," he said.
"I've never really been one about milestones, but I think it's a different story with 10,000, because there have only been a handful that have done it.
"It just shows the longevity in the game and the consistency over a long period of time."
Smith will be just the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs, joining an elite group.
The other three who have ticked it off are Ricky Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174) and Steve Waugh (10,927).
And while that milestone will have to wait until the Sri Lanka Test series, Smith is gearing up to silence the critics after a strong summer.
"I feel like I've been batting nicely for a while now," he said.
Steve Smith of Australia looks dejected while leaving the field after being dismissed on day two of the SCG Test. Getty
"Even before I scored the hundreds, I said to you guys (media) that I was batting nicely and hitting the ball well.
"I think there's a real difference between out of form and out of runs, and I think I was out of runs.
"A couple of good scores was cool to contribute to the team's success over the summer."
Smith will take over the captaincy for the two Test series in Sri Lanka, with Pat Cummins missing due to the upcoming birth of his second child.
And it's a role he knows all too well.
"I've stood in for Patty on a couple of occasions. I did the last two Tests in India last time, and I enjoyed that," Smith said.
"I think I understand those conditions really well when the spinners are on and the angles that need to be created and things like that.
"I'm looking forward to it. It should be another good tour."
The first of two Tests against Sri Lanka kicks off on January 29.
