Most Runs In Test Cricket By Considering Each Batting Position

Test match is the oldest form of the game of cricket. Unlike the ODI and T20Is, Test cricket consists of totally a different format where teams have to play two innings in one game. Batsmen can play unlimited numbers of deliveries and bowlers can bowl an unlimited number of overs. Although having unlimited overs while batting and bowling have its own advantages, it also makes the job tiring and exhausting. Moreover, the Test match is also a 5-day long event.

Test cricket has a long history and there have been numerous records made by players in this format of the game. Since batsmen have an unlimited number of overs to play, many players account for a lot of runs in their Test career. Here we talk about runs scored by batsmen at different batting positions. In this listicle, we take a look at most runs in Test cricket by each batting position.

Most Runs In Test Cricket By Each Batting Position

Opener- Alastair Cook (England)

Former England cricketer Alastair Cook has scored the most runs as an opener in Test cricket. The former England skipper has scored 11,845 runs in 278 innings while batting as an opener. The left-handed batsman has an average of 44.87 at this batting position and has also smashed 31 centuries. In his overall Test career, Cook accounts for 12,472 runs in 291 innings at an average of 45.35. He has smashed a total of 33 centuries, out of which 5 were double centuries. Cook also accounts for 57 half-centuries.

No. 3 Position- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara has piled up most runs at the no.3 batting position in Test cricket. He has muttered 11,679 runs in 207 innings at an average of 60.83 while batting at no.3. He has smashed 37 centuries too. The left-handed batsman has scored 12,400 runs in 233 innings in his overall Test career. He owns an average of 57.41 and has smacked 38 centuries in total, out of which 11 were double centuries and 1 was a triple century. Sangakkara has also hit 52 half-centuries.

No.4 Position- Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has smashed most runs in Test cricket at no.4 batting position. The right-handed batsman has scored 13,492 runs in 275 innings at an average of 54.40 while batting at the no.4 spot. The former Indian cricketer has also smashed 44 centuries.

Overall, Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in Tests with 15,921 runs in 329 innings with most 51 centuries. He accounts for an average of 53.79 in his Test career. Tendulkar, who played for India from 1989 to 2013, has hit 6 double centuries and 68 half-centuries in the longest format of the game.

No. 5 Position- Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)

Shivnarine Chanderpaul holds the record for most runs in Test Cricket at no. 5 batting position. The former West Indies player has piled up 6883 runs in 151 innings at this batting position at an average of 56.42. He has also smashed 19 centuries while batting at no.5.

The left-handed batsman has knocked 11,867 runs in 280 innings in his Test career at an average of 51.37. Chanderpaul, who played Test matches for Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2015, has smashed a total of 30 centuries in Tests that consists of 2 double tons.

No.6 Position- Steve Waugh (Australia)

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh records for most runs in Test cricket at no.6 batting position. The right-handed batsman has smashed 3165 runs in 79 innings at the no.6 batting spot. He owns an average of 51.05 while batting in this position and has also shattered 6 tons. Overall, Steve Waugh has scored 10,927 runs in 260 Test innings at an average of 51.06. He accounts for 32 centuries in his Test career, out of which 1 was a double hundred. He also hit 50 half-centuries in Test.

No.7 Position- Adam Gilchrist (Australia)

Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has scored the most runs in Test cricket while batting at the no.7 spot. The left-handed batsman has smashed 3948 runs in 100 innings at an average of 46.45 while batting as no.7 batsman. He has also smacked 12 centuries. Gilchrist played for Tests Australia from 1999 to 2008. He scored 5570 runs in 137 innings along with 17 tons. Gilchrist also scored one double century and 26 half-centuries in Tests.

No.8 Position- Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has scored most runs at no.8 batting position in Test cricket. The left-handed batsman accounts for 2227 runs in 67 innings at an average of 39.77. The bowling all-rounder has smacked 4 Test centuries while batting at the no.8 spot. Overall, the left-arm spinner has scored 4531 runs in 174 innings in his Test career at an average of 30.01. He has hit 6 Test centuries. Vettori played Tests for New Zealand from 1997 to 2014.

No.9 Position- Stuart Broad (England)

England pacer Stuart Broad has scored the most runs in Test cricket while batting at the no.9 spot. The right-handed batsman has smashed 1310 runs in 70 innings at an average of 20.15. He has also hit 1 hundred while batting at no.9 position. Overall, the right-arm pacer has scored 3365 runs in 213 Test innings at an average of 18.90. He has also smashed 13 half-centuries. Stuart Broad has retired from ODI and T20I format but he is a regular player for England in Tests.

No. 10 Position- Stuart Broad (England)

Stuart Broad also holds the record for most runs at the no.10 batting position. He has batted at no. 10 in 70 innings, smashing 740 runs in the process at an average of 13.45. However, he has not smashed a century in this position. The 34-year-old has been active in the national team of England since 2006. The right-arm pacer Broad has picked 518 wickets in his Test career.

No.11 Position- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka’s bowling legend Muttiah Muralitharan has scored the most runs at the no.11 batting position in Test cricket. The former Sri Lankan cricketer has managed to score 623 runs in 98 innings at the last batting spot. He has an average of 11.33. Overall, the off-spinner has scored 1261 runs in 164 innings in his Test career at an average of 11.68.  Muralitharan, who played Test matches from 1992 to 2010, is the highest wicket-taker in the format with 800 wickets in 164 innings.