Rating The 10 Best Opening Pairs In The History Of Test Cricket

In Test cricket, batsmen do not have to worry about strike rate while batting. Since there is no limit on the number of overs, batsmen can play an unlimited number of overs while batting. Opening pairs have an advantage in Test cricket, as they do not have to think about strike rate while batting. Hence, they can play without any pressure while scoring runs, however, they do have to safeguard their wickets while batting.

In the history of Test cricket, there are many opening pairs who have smashed spectacular knocks for their teams. These openers accumulated a lot of runs for their respective teams while opening the Test innings. These openers also own magnificent batting records while batting as openers. In this listicle, we take a look at the 10 best opening pairs in the history of Test cricket and rate them out of 10.

Rating The 10 Best Opening Pairs In The History Of Test Cricket

10. Herschelle Gibbs And Graeme Smith (South Africa) – 6/10

Former South African opening pair Herschelle Gibbs And Graeme Smith take the 10th spot in this list with a rating of 6 out of 10. Both the former Proteas cricketers played as openers in 56 Test innings from 2002 to 2008. Right-handed batsman Gibbs and left-handed batter Smith piled up 2983 runs in 56 innings in Test at an average of 56.28.

The South African duo also smashed 7 hundred-plus and 10 fifty-plus opening stands for South Africa. Their highest opening partnership was 368 runs in a Test match against Pakistan in January 2003.

9. Chetan Chauhan And Sunil Gavaskar (India) – 6/10

Former Indian cricketers Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar get the 9th spot in this list and a rating of 6 out of 10. The Indian opening pair played together as openers in 59 Test innings for India. They piled up 3010 runs in 59 innings at an average of 53.75.

Both the right-handed batsmen also smacked 10 hundred-plus and 10 fifty-plus knocks as openers. The Indian duo’s highest opening stand in Tests was a 213-run knock in a match against England in August 1979.

8. Michael Slater And Mark Taylor (Australia) – 6.5/10

Former Australia’s Test opening pair Michael Slater And Mark Taylor bag the 8th spot in this list with a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Right-handed batsman Slater and left-handed batsman Taylor opened together for Australia in 78 Test innings between 1993 and 1999.

The Aussie opening pair mustered 3887 runs at an average of 51.14. They also smashed 10 hundred-plus knocks and 16 fifty-plus opening partnerships in Tests. Their highest partnership for the opening wicket was 260 runs, which they smashed in a Test match against England in June 1993.

7. Marvan Atapattu And Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 7/10

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya get the 7th spot in this list with a rating of 7 out of 10. The Sri Lankan opening pair played together as openers in 188 Tests innings. They scored 4469 runs at an average of 40.26.

The right-handed batsman Atapattu and left-handed batsman Jayasuriya also hit 9 hundred-plus knocks and 24 fifty-plus knocks while batting as openers in Tests. Their highest opening partnership was 335 runs, which they scored in a match against Pakistan in June 2000.

6. Gautam Gambhir And Virender Sehwag (India) – 7/10

Former Indian cricketers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag get the 6th spot in this list and a rating of 7 out of 10. Left-handed batsmen Gambhir and right-handed Sehwag played together as openers in 87 Test innings from 2004 to 2012, piling up 4412 runs at an average of 52.52.

The Indian opening pair also smacked 11 hundred-plus and 25 fifty-plus opening stands in Tests. Their highest knock while batting as openers were 233 runs, which they hit in a Test match against Sri Lanka in November 2009.

5. Bill Lawry And Bob Simpson (Australia) – 7.5/10

Former Australian opening pair Bill Lawry And Bob Simpson grab the 5th spot in this list with a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The Aussie opening pair played 62 Test innings as openers for Australia from 1961 to 1968. They mustered 3596 runs at an average of 60.94.

They also smashed 9 hundred-plus knocks and 18 fifty-plus knocks as openers. Their highest opening stand in Test was 382 runs, scored in a match against West Indies in May 1965.

4. Alastair Cook And Andrew Strauss (England) – 8/10

Former English cricketers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss get 4th spot in this list with a rating of 8 out of 10. Left-handed batsman Cook and right-handed batsman Strauss played as openers in 117 Tests from 2006 to 2012.

The English opening pair also account for 12 hundred-plus and 18 fifty-plus opening knocks in Tests. Their highest opening stand in Tests was 229 runs, which they hit in a match against West Indies in February 2009.

3. Jack Hobbs And Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 8.5/10

Former England cricketer Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe bag 3rd spot in this list and get a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Both the former English cricketers played 38 Test innings for England between 1924 to 1930. They mustered 3249 runs at an amazing average of 87.81.

They shattered 15 hundred-plus and 10 fifty-plus opening partnership in Tests. Hobbs and Sutcliff’s highest knock in Test as openers was 283, which they hit in a match against Australia in January 195.

2. Gordon Greenidge And Desmond Haynes (West Indies) – 9/10

Former West Indies players Gordon Greenidge And Desmond Haynes grab the 2nd spot in this list and get a rating of 9 out of 10. The Caribbean opening pair batted as openers in 148 innings between 1978 to 1991. They scored 6484 runs at an average of 47.31.

The West Indies duo also hit 16 hundred-plus and 26 fifty-plus opening stands in Tests. Their highest opening stand in Test was 298, which they smashed in an encounter against West Indies in April 1990.

1. Matthew Hayden And Justin Langer (Australia) – 9.5/10

Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer get the top spot in this list and get a rating of 9.5 out of 10. The Australian opening pair played as openers in 113 Test innings. They scored 5655 runs at an average of 51.88.

Langer and Hayden also smacked 14 hundred-plus and 24 fifty-plus opening partnerships in Tests. Their highest opening partnership was 255 runs, which they smashed in a Test match against Sri Lanka in July 2004.