5 batsmen with most runs in the fourth innings of a Test match

Batting in the fourth innings of a Test match is indeed a challenging task. He has to negotiate a crumbling fourth or fifth day pitch and on most occasions, there is the pressure of a target to be chased. Moreover, a single breakthrough has the potential to tilt a match in the bowling side's favour.

Owing to these factors, a crucial knock played in the fourth innings can prove decisive. West Indian cricket fans would fondly remember Brian Lara’s ethereal 153* against Australia when the ‘Prince Of Trinidad' dismantled the Australian bowling attack and took the Caribbean outfit to a one-wicket victory in 1999.

Apart from this knock, the 103* that Sachin Tendulkar conjured in 2008 Chennai is one of the most famous knocks while chasing as it helped India chase down a monumental target of 387 runs.

Thus, the batsmen who distinguished themselves in the fourth innings of Test matches deserve their time in the sun. Through this article, we would take a look at five batsmen who have scored the most runs in the fourth innings of a Test match.

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#5 Rahul Dravid (India) - 1552 Runs

Rahul Dravid scored 1552 runs in the fourth innings of a test match at an average of 40.84

Fondly referred to as 'The Wall' of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid played 56 innings in the fourth innings of a Test match through his career and scored 1552 runs, including one century and 9 fifties at an average of 40.84.

Dravid’s sole hundred in the fourth innings came in a drawn Test at Hamilton against New Zealand in 1998. He also scored a crucial 72* at Adelaide against Australia to back up his first innings score of 233. In the process, he enabled India to win a Test match in Australia after two decades.

RECORD: Innings: 56, Runs:1552, 100s:1, 50s:9, Average:40.84

#4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) - 1580 Runs

Chanderpaul was the lone warrior of the West Indian cricket team during the late 2000s and early 2010s

Known for his unorthodox stance while batting, Shivnarine Chanderpaul occupies the fourth place on our list with 1580 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match. The southpaw featured in 49 innings in the fourth innings of a Test match for the West Indies and scored 1580 runs, including two hundreds and 11 fifties at a decent average of 41.58.

One of Chanderpaul's centuries in the fourth innings was a classic 116* he scored against England at Old Trafford in 2007. However, his ton went in vain as England trumped the West Indies by 60 runs.

In a Test career spanning 164 matches, Chanderpaul amassed a total of 11867 runs with 30 centuries, 66 half-centuries at an astounding average of 51.37. He also finished as the second-highest run scorer for the West Indies in Test matches.

RECORD: Innings: 49, Runs: 1580, 100s: 2, 50s: 11, Average: 41.58

#3 Sir Alastair Cook (England) - 1611 Runs

Sir Alistair Cook will go down as the greatest batsman produced by England in Test Cricket.

Sir Alastair Cook will go down as the greatest batsman produced by England in Test match cricket. The left-handed batsman is currently the highest run scorer for England with 12472 runs to his name. And, out of his run aggregate, 1611 runs came in the fourth innings of Test matches.

Cook featured 53 times in the fourth innings of a Test and scored 1611 runs at an average of 35.80, including 2 hundreds and 9 fifties. Cook scored a magnificent 116 against Australia in 2006, but that could not prevent the mighty Australians from steamrolling England by 206 runs.

His second century in the fourth innings was 109* against Bangladesh, and that helped England beat the Tigers by 9 wickets.

RECORD: Innings:53, Runs:1611, 100’s:2, 50’s:9, Average:35.80

#2. Graeme Smith (South Africa) -1611 Runs

Graeme Smith has an average of 51.97 in the fourth innings of Test matches

Graeme Smith played 41 times in the fourth innings of a Test match and amassed 1611 runs at a stunning average of 51.97, including 4 hundreds and 9 fifties. In fact, Smith’s average in the fourth innings of a Test is higher than his career average of 48.26.

Opening the batting while chasing a tricky target of 234, Smith’s magnificent 125* against New Zealand paved the way for South Africa to beat the Kiwis by 6 wickets. He also scored a stunning 154* against England at Edgbaston, enabling his side to beat England in their own backyard.

He also scored 108 and 101 against Australia, and on both occasions, the Proteas got the better of the Australians. Additionally, Smith is the only batsman among the top 5 run scorers to average more than 50 in the fourth innings of a Test.

RECORD: Innings:41, Runs:1611, 100’s:4, 50’s:9, Average:51.97

#1.Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 1625 Runs

Tendulkar's 103* in Chennai helped India chase down a mammoth taget of 387 against England.

Topping the list is India’s batting icon, Sachin Tendulkar. Hailed as the most complete batsman in the history of the game, Tendulkar is the highest run scorer of all time in Test match cricket, with 15921 runs to his name. And, in the fourth innings of Tests, Tendulkar scored 1625 runs at an average of 36.93, including 3 hundreds and 7 fifties.

The right-handed batsman scored a magnificent 119* when he was just 17 years old against England at Manchester and that allowed India to salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat. The ‘Little Master’ then scored a magical 136 against Pakistan in Chennai in 1998. However, that could not prevent India from going down to their arch rivals by 12 runs.

In fact, the first Tendulkar ton in the fourth innings that resulted in a victory for India came in his 19th year in international cricket. India were chasing a steep target of 387, and Tendulkar scored a magical 103* to help India register a famous win against England at Chennai.

RECORD: Innings:60, Runs:1625, 100’s:3, 50’s:7, Average:36.93