10 batsmen who have scored the highest percentage of their team's runs in Tests

Gooch was one of the greatest batsmen of his generation
Gooch was one of the greatest batsmen of his generation

Over the years, there have been a number of great batsmen in Test cricket with many of them being talismanic figures for their team.

A number of great players have frequently been amongst their respective team’s top scorers for most matches. Many of these players have scored a good chunk of the team’s runs during the span of their respective careers. Here are 10 batsmen who have scored the highest percentage of their team’s runs in Tests.


#10 Graham Gooch- 16.82%

One of the greatest batsmen that ever graced a cricket pitch, Graham Gooch had an extensive career that lasted nearly two decades. Over these two decades, England amassed a total of 52911 runs. Out of those runs, Gooch scored 8900 (16.82%).

Despite the presence of the likes of Geoffrey Boycott, Allan Lamb, David Gower and Mike Gatting, Gooch managed to score a percentage of the team’s runs which was quite a unique feat during the time.

Gooch averaged 42.58 and scored 46 fifties and 20 hundreds with his highest score being 333 against India at Lord’s in 1990. During the same match, Gooch amassed a total of 456 runs, a record which has not been bettered yet.

#9 Ken Barrington- 17.24%

Ken Barrington produced several scintillating performances for England with the bat during his olaying days
Ken Barrington produced several scintillating performances for England with the bat during his playing days

One of the greatest cricketers of his generation, Ken Barrington made his test debut in 1955 and went on to play till 1968 before his career came to an abrupt end due to a heart attack. Throughout his playing days, England scored 39485 runs and Barrington score 6806 of them (17.24%).

Known for his defensive batting style, Barrington averaged 58.67 and scored 35 fifties and 20 hundreds. Barrington’s highest Test score was 256 against Australia at Old Trafford in 1964 which is the 14th highest individual test score by an English batsman.

During his playing time, England contained several brilliant batsmen like Colin Cowdrey, Tom Graveney and Peter May. Yet, he managed to have a pretty decent percentage of the team’s runs to his name.

#8 Wally Hammond- 17.57%

Hammond was the highest Test run-scorer by the end of his career
Hammond was the highest Test run-scorer by the end of his career

Widely considered to be the greatest batsmen during the 1930s, Wally Hammond had a Test career that spanned from 1927 to 1947. During this period, England scored 41265 runs and Hammond scored 7249 of them (17.57%).

At the time, Hammond’s Test runs were the highest in the history of the format and stood for more than two decades before his compatriot Colin Cowdrey bettered the record in 1970. Hammond averaged 58.45 in Tests and had 24 fifties and 22 centuries to his name with 336 against New Zealand in 1993 being his highest Test score. It was also the highest individual score in Test cricket at the time.

#7 Sunil Gavaskar- 17.73%

Sunny was the greatest Indian batsman of his time
Sunny was the greatest Indian batsman of his time

One of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of Test cricket, Sunil Gavaskar’s Test career spanned from 1971-1987. During this period, India scored 57078 runs in Tests and Gavaskar scored 10122 of them (17.73%).

Sunny averaged 51.12 in Tests and had 45 fifties and 34 hundreds to his name. His highest score was 236 against West Indies at Chennai which was the highest Test score by an Indian batsman at the time.

Despite the presence of several notable Indian batsmen like Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohinder Amarnath and Gundappa Viswanath, Gavaskar managed to score a percentage of India’s runs during his career which hasn’t been bettered by any Indian batsman who has played more than 50 Test matches.

#6 Kumar Sangakkara- 17.97%

Sangakkara is undoubtedly the greatest Sri Lankan batsman of all-time
Sangakkara is undoubtedly the greatest Sri Lankan batsman of all-time

The greatest Sri Lankan batsman and one of the greatest cricketers of all-time, Kumar Sangakkara’s Test career spanned from 2000-2015. During this period, Sri Lanka scored 68973 runs in Tests and Sangakkara scored 12400 of them (17.97%).

Sanga averaged a brilliant 57.40 in Tests and smashed 52 fifties and 38 hundreds with his highest Test score being 319 against Bangladesh at Chittagong in 2014.

During Sanga’s Test career, Sri Lanka had several great batsmen like Mahela Jayawarden, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya. However, he still managed to score nearly 18% of the team’s runs during his career.

#5 Steve Smith- 18.01%

The Aussie has been one of the best batsmen in the world since the past couple of years
The Aussie has been one of the best batsmen in the world since the past couple of years

The only modern-day cricketer to appear on this list, the disgraced Aussie skipper has scored 6199 Test runs which are 18.01% of Australia’s 34481 runs during his career so far. Smith averages 61.37 in Tests and has scored 24 fifties and 23 hundreds with 239 against England in the Ashes a few months back being his highest Test score.

Smith has been arguably the best Test batsman in the world in the past couple of years. His performances with the bat have been pivotal to Australia’s success.

During Smith’s career Australia have had a number of brilliant batsmen who produced mesmerising performances. However, Smith’s consistency has helped him maintain quite a strong percentage of the team’s runs.

#4 Jack Hobbs- 18.75%

Sir Jack Hobbs was the highest run-scorer in Tests by the time of his retirement
Sir Jack Hobbs was the highest run-scorer in Tests by the time of his retirement

Probably the greatest batsman in the world before Don Bradman, Jack Hobbs began his Test career at the age of 26 and played till he was 48. During his playing career from 1908-1930, England amassed 28849 runs and Hobbs scored 5410 of those runs (18.75%).

“The Master” averaged 56.94 in Tests and garnered 28 fifties and 15 hundreds with 211 against South Africa in 1924 being his highest Test score. Hobbs ended his Test career as the highest run scorer in Test history. Hobbs ended his first-class career with 61760 runs and 199 centuries, two records which have not been broken yet.

#3 Len Hutton- 19.01%

Hutton held the record for the highest individual Test score for more than 50 years
Hutton held the record for the highest individual Test score for more than 50 years

One of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game, Len Hutton’s Test career spanned nearly two decades from 1937-1955 and during this period, England amassed a total of 36653 runs and Hutton scored 6971 of them (19.01%).

The opener averaged 56.67 in Tests and scored 33 fifties and 19 hundreds with 364 against Australia in 1938 being his highest Test score. Hutton attained this score in only his sixth Test and it was the highest individual score in Test history. This record stood for more than 5 decades before being bettered.

#2 Brian Lara- 20.33%

The Windies legend scored more than 20% of his team's runs throughout his career
The Windies legend scored more than 20% of his team's runs throughout his career

One of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport, Brian Lara’s Test career spanned for 16 years and during this period, West Indies amassed a total of 58789 runs and Lara scored 11953 of them (20.33%).

Lara averaged 52.88 and had 48 fifties and 34 centuries to his name with 400 against England at Antigua in 2004 being his highest Test score. It is also the highest individual score in Test cricket history, bettering Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe which came 6 months back.

Despite the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle and Carl Hooper being in the team during most of Lara’s career, he managed to score quite a good percentage of the team’s runs during his 16 years.

#1 Don Bradman- 25.32%

Bradman scored more than 1/4th of his team's runs during his career
Bradman scored more than 1/4th of his team's runs during his career

It should not come as a surprise to anybody that this man is at the top of the list. Widely regarded to be the greatest batsman of all-time, Bradman’s Test career spanned from 1928-1948 and during this period, Australia scored 27624 runs with Bradman scoring 6996 which is slightly more than a fourth of the team’s runs.

Bradman scored these many runs in just 52 Test matches and averaged a whopping 99.94, an achievement considered to be amongst the greatest in any sport. He had 13 fifties and 29 centuries throughout his Test career with a 334 against England in 1930 being his highest Test score which was also the highest individual score for a few years.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad