5 Test openers who played with the most number of batting partners

Graham Gooch – 17 partners

A first-class giant, Gooch amassed nearly 45,000 runs in 581 matches. 8900 of those were in 118 Tests for England, which started in 1975 and continued for the next two decades, even after he had crossed 40. He chose to play with a heavy bat, scoring 20 Test tons, including the mammoth knock of 333 against India.

He didn’t start off as an opener, but moved to the top spot after three years, opening for the first time with Mike Brearley. His last opening partner was wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart.

Partners:

Mike Brearley, Geoff Boycott, Geoff Cook, Robinson, Wilf Slack, Mark Benson, MD Moxon, Chris Athey, Chris Broad, Tim Curtis, John Stephenson, Wayne Larkins, Michael Atherton, David Gower, H Morris, Alec Stewart