Top 5 batsmen with most runs in a three-match Test series

Graham Gooch
Graham Gooch

India’s new opener Rohit Sharma has been in scintillating form in the Test series against South Africa. The series which began with question marks over his position in the playing eleven, and with uncertainty over his ability as a Test opener, could end being the turning point of his career in the longer format.

Sharma has amassed 529 runs in four innings against the Proteas in the three Tests, at an average of 132.25 with two hundreds and a double hundred. For a Test series, he also has an amazing strike rate of 77.45. Sharma’s scores in the series are 176, 127, 14 and 212. The next highest run-getter in the series is Sharma’s opening partner Mayank Agarwal with 340, including one hundred and an double hundred at an average of 85.

While Sharma is the highest run-getter in the series against South Africa by some distance, he still doesn't feature in the list of top run-getters in a three-match Test series.

In this feature, we take a look at the top 5 batsmen with most runs in a three-match Test series.

#5 David Warner (592 runs)

David Warner
David Warner

The big-hitting Aussie opener David Warner compiled 592 runs in the three-match series against New Zealand in 2015-16. In six innings, Warner blazed his way to three hundreds at an average of 98.67.

In the first Test at Brisbane, played from November 5-9, Warner smashed 163 from 224 balls, with 19 fours and a six, in the first innings. Usman Khawaja also hit 174 in an impressive 556 for 4 declared. After New Zealand responded with 317 courtesy Kane Williamson’s 140, Warner came up with his second hundred of the match. He blasted 116 from 113 balls as Australia set Kiwis a massive target of 504, and won the Test by 208 runs.

The second Test was played at Perth from November 13-17. Australia again batted first, and this time Warner smashed a magnificent 253 from 286 balls, with 24 fours and 2 sixes, as Australia declared on 559 for 9. Under pressure, Kiwis responded with a majestic 290 from Ross Taylor and 166 from Williamson as they posted 624 all-out. Warner had a rare failure, falling for 24 in the second innings, as the Test ended in a high-scoring draw.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

#4 Virat Kohli (610 runs)

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli

The tremendously in-form Indian captain finds himself at number four in the list. Virat Kohli amassed 610 runs in the three-match series at home against Sri Lanka in 2017-18, with three hundreds (two of them being double hundred) and a fifty at a Bradman-esque average of 152.50.

Kohli started the series on an inauspicious note, with a duck in the first innings of the first Test, played at Kolkata from November 16-20. India were bowled out for 172, and despite four-fors from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, Sri Lanka replied with 294, as Rangana Herath top-scored with 67. Kohli made up for his rare failure with an unbeaten 104 in the second innings as India posted 352. Sri Lanka crumbled to 75 for 7 chasing 231, somehow managing to stave off defeat.

The Indian skipper was in his elements in the second Test at Nagpur, held from November 24-27. After India bowled out Sri Lanka for 205 in the first innings, the hosts replied with an massive 610 for 6 declared, Kohli was the star performer with 213 from 267 balls, smashing 17 fours and two sixes.

Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma also hit hundreds. Sri Lanka folded up for 166 in the second innings, as Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets. India won by the Test by an innings and 239 runs.

In the third Test, played at Delhi from December 2-6, Kohli hit his second double hundred of the series, easing to 243 from 287 balls as India posted 536 for 7 declared batting first. Kohli smashed 25 fours in a knock that came at a strike rate of 84.66. Opener Vijay also contributed a well-compiled 155.

Sri Lanka responded with hundreds from Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal to post a competitive 373. In the second innings, Kohli made a quick 50 from 58 balls. Sri Lanka were set 410 to win, but Dhananjaya de Silva’s 119 helped them to a credible draw.

#3 Mohammad Yousuf (665 runs)

Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Yousuf

The former Pakistan middle-order batsman, Mohammad Yousuf, was in scintillating form when West Indies visited Pakistan in 2006-07. Yousuf totalled 665 runs in five innings at an average of 133, with four hundreds and a fifty.

In the first Test at Lahore, played from November 11-14, West Indies batted first, and were kept down to 206 courtesy Umar Gul’s five-for. Pakistan’s response was led by a magnificent 192 from Yousuf, who faced 330 balls, and hit 24 fours and a six. The hosts posted 485 and, despite Brian Lara’s 122, West Indies could only post 291 in their second innings. Pakistan won the Test by nine wickets.

The second Test was played at Multan from November 19-23. Yousuf made 56 in the first innings in which Pakistan posted 357. After the Windies replied with 591 thanks to Lara’s fantastic 216, it was Yousuf’s turn to shine again. He compiled 191 from 344 balls, hitting 22 fours, missing out on a double hundred second time in as many innings, as the Test was drawn.

The final Test of the series saw the teams clashing at Karachi from November 27-December 1. Pakistan batted first, and this time Yousuf made 102 from 158 balls as the hosts, batting first, managed 304. After West Indies scored only 260 in response, Yousuf came up with his second hundred of the match. He made 124 from 195 balls as Pakistan declared on 399 for 6, and won the Test by 199 runs.

#2 Brian Lara (688 runs)

Brian Lara
Brian Lara

West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka in 2001-02 can easily be termed as Brian Lara vs Sri Lanka. Despite the left-hander amassing 688 runs from six innings, with three hundreds and a fifty, at an impressive average of 114.67, the hosts still whitewashed the Windies 3-0.

The first Test was played at Galle from November 13-17. West Indies batted first, and Lara’s 178 from 294 balls took them to 448. Sri Lanka responded with 590 for 9, with hundreds from Kumar Sangakkara and Hashan Tillakaratne, and 99 from Mahela Jayawardene. Lara was dismissed for 40 in the second innings as West Indies managed only 144.

In the second Test at Kandy, played from November 21-25, Lara’s 74 was the only innings of note as West Indies managed only 191 in response to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 288. Murali and Chaminda Vaas both claimed four-fors. Marvan Atapattu’s 84 enabled Sri Lanka to declare their second innings at 224 for 6. Lara fell for 45 in West Indies’ second innings as the visitors folded up for 190, chasing 322. Murali again worked his magic with 6 for 81.

Despite a magnificent 221 from Lara in the final Test at Colombo, held from November 29-December 3, Sri Lanka whitewashed West Indies 3-0. Lara’s double hundred featured 23 fours and 2 sixes, but West Indies managed 390 batting first, with Vaas claiming 7 for 120. Tillakaratne led the hosts’ response with an unbeaten 204 as Sri Lanka declared on 627 for 9. Lara slammed 130 from 215 in Windies’ second innings, but Vaas again claimed seven wickets as West Indies were kept down to 262. Sri Lanka chased down 26 to complete the series win.

#1 Graham Gooch (752 runs)

Graham Gooch
Graham Gooch

Former England captain and opener, Graham Gooch holds the record for most runs in a three-match series, by some distance. He amassed 752 runs in three Tests during India’s tour of England in 1990.

The first Test was played at Lord’s from July 26-31. Gooch made a masterly 333 from 485 balls, but Indians remember the match for the dropped catch by Kiran More off Sanjeev Sharma’s bowling. Gooch was on 36 when More grassed a regulation chance, and went on to pulverise the Indian bowling. His magnificent 333 featured 43 fours and three sixes as England posted a massive 653 for 4 batting first, with Allan Lamb and Robin Smith also posting hundreds.

In response, Ravi Shastri and Mohammad Azharuddin hit centuries before Kapil Dev (77 not out) famously hit four consecutive sixes off Eddie Hemmings to help India save the follow-on. Gooch then made 123 in the second innings as England set India a target of 472. Under pressure, India crumbled to 224 all out.

Gooch scored 116 from 163 balls as England posted 519 batting first in the second Test at Manchester, played from August 9-14. India responded with 432 as skipper Azhar slammed a magnificent 179. Gooch fell for 7 in the second innings, but Lamb’s 109 saw England declare on 320 for 4. Chasing 408, India were led to a draw by Sachin Tendulkar’s famous maiden Test hundred, 119 not out, as the visitors ended at 343 for 6.

In the final Test at The Oval, held from August 23-28, Shastri’s 187 took India to 606 for 9 batting first. In response, Gooch continued his great form with 85 from 248 balls. However, Manoj Prabhakar’s four-for restricted England to 340. Made to follow-on, Gooch again contributed 88 from 190 deliveries. However, it was David Gower’s unbeaten 157 that sealed a draw, and the series for England.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari