Top 5 batting partnership pairs in international cricket history

Partnerships in cricket are always crucial for ateam. One big partnership at any stage of the innings will transfer the advantage of the game to the batting side in a big way.Let us have a look at top 5 pairs that hasmade more runs together, helping their sides cause with their successful combinations.This list includes all International matches Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

#5 Marvan Atapattu - Sanath Jayasuriya

9995 Runs in 266 innings, Average 39.35, 100s 23, 50s 50

The Sri Lankan opening pair with almost 10000 runs together played in the Sri Lankanside during the time stretching between 1996-2007.Sanathbeing an aggressor, Atapattu played a supportive role initiallybefore going for runs later on.

They bettered several renowned combinations including Dravid-Ganguly of India and Ricky Ponting-Matthew Haydenof Australia to take the 5th spot.

#4 Rahul Dravid - Sachin Tendulkar

11037 Runs in 241 innings, Average 47.98, 100s 31, 50s- 43

The legendary Indian pair was instrumental forthe uplift of Indian cricket onthe test arena in the early 2000s with consistent batting displays. They batted together for 16 years since 1996 till 2012. This pair holds the record for highest partnership in ODIs with their 331 against New Zealand at Hyderabad in1999.

#3 Gordon Greenidge - Desmond Haynes

11688 Runs from 251 innings, Average 49.52, 100s 31, 50s 51

The West Indian opening pair was together during the time between 1978 and 1991. Together with their strongbowlers they formed the formidable West Indian team of the 80sthat conquered the world.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar - Sourav Ganguly

12400 Runs from 247 innings, Average 54.45, 100s 38, 50s 45

Thispartnership that had no mercy for any bowling line-up. Batting at the top for India in ODIs and in the middle-order for Tests, they had more memorable partnerships than any other combination till date. With 38 scores of hundred or above, they hold the record for the most number of 100+ partnerships in international cricket.

This pair playedtogether drom1992 to 2008.

#1 Mahela Jayawardene - Kumar Sangakkara

12430 Runs from 272 Innings,Average 47.99,100s 33, 50s 57

Batting together for 14 years during the period between2000-2014, the pillars of Sri Lankan middle orderhave recently edged out the all time favourite Indian pair of Sachin Tendulkarand Sourav Ganguly. However, they have batted for number of innings than the Indian heavyweights.

The runs in T20 Internationals might have helped the Lankan pair edge out the Indian superstars. This pair made their way to the history books with their landmark partnership of 624 in a Test matchagainst South Africa at Columbo, 2006.

Stats updated till 15 June 2014