Top 5 highest year-end averages for runs scored across all formats

In a previous article, we went through the top run-scorers of 2016 across all formats in international cricket. Virat Kohli aced it and nearly made it to the top 5 run-scorers in a calendar year, of all time. He fell a few runs short of countryman Rahul Dravid. Nevertheless, Virat Kohli has broken into another hallowed list.

We compiled a list of batsman who ended the year on enviable averages, considering their runs in all international formats. High averages in such a list is tough considering that in the shorter format of the game, getting out is common when batsmen go in search of quick runs. Maintaining a sublime average in such a scenario is extremely difficult.

The top 5 in the list of batsman with the highest averages for runs scored across all formats changes based on our qualifications.

If the qualification mark is 1000 runs, Kohli (2595 at 86.50 in 2016) is at No. 5 and only Michael Hussey (1214 at 101.16 in 2005) made a T20 appearance to also appear in the list. The top 2 in that list – Sir Garfield Sobers (1299 runs at 144.3 in 1958) and Don Bradman (1025 at 113.88 in 1948) - are there thanks to their Test performances.

Virat Kohli is the only player there to have scored more than 2000 runs. And then there are those extra heaps of runs he added in the IPL we haven’t even considered. Hussey played just the lone T20I, when he ended the year 2005 at a breath-taking 100+ average, making it to this list. Sir Viv Richards is fourth (1926 at 91.71 in 1976) on this list. Mind you it is a little unfair to compare batsmen across eras.

If the qualification mark is 1500 runs, Kohli climbs to No.2 behind the great Sir Vivian Richards, who is fourth on the previous list. Sachin Tendulkar (1766 at 84.09 in 2010), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1567 at 78.35 in 2007) and Michael Clarke (2251 at 77.62 in 2012) complete this list.

But, in this list, to make it contemporary and compare batsmen of similar eras, we keep the qualification mark at 2000 runs in a calendar year. Only Sachin Tendulkar’s average of 68.67 for his 2541 runs in 1998 and Brian Lara’s average of 67.60 for his 2028 runs in 1995 make it to the top 10 of this list from the previous millennium. (Stats courtesy: Cricinfo)

Here are the top 5:

#5 Mohammad Yousuf – 69.57 (2006)

Yousuf made cricketing history in 2006 scoring 9 Test tons. He didn’t add to that tally in ODIs. Nevertheless, his overall strike-rate was just as impressive as his average. Yousuf scored 2435 runs that year. Only six times has a Pakistan batsman scored more than 2000 runs in a calendar year. Yousuf did it thrice. That says a lot about the man. There was a double ton too, and unfortunately, three 190s and a 97 showing Yousuf was even better than what the stats suggest and the stats suggest quite a lot.

The 202 at Lord’s against England was probably the highlight of the year, to help Pakistan draw the Test against England. He went on to have a great series but Pakistan nevertheless, lost 0-3, the last Test ending controversially. In all, Yousuf has 17300 career runs at 45.52, making him the 18th highest run-getter across all formats in cricket.

#4 Jacques Kallis – 70.96 (2004)

Kallis made more than 2000 runs in a calendar year across all formats, four times

Kallis is probably the greatest all-rounder cricket has seen alongside Sir Garfield Sobers. Kallis made more than 2000 runs in a calendar year across all formats, four times. Very few can match that. But 2004 became his watershed year when he piled on 2058 runs at 70.96 with 8 centuries, 11 half-centuries and 10 not-outs. Unlike Clarke’s 2012, Kallis’ year was not full of colossal daddy-hundreds.

Instead, he was consistent right through, failing little and scoring consistently. There were a lot of half-centuries that could’ve been converted into centuries. Kallis scored tons against every team he played against that year. The performances in Tests and ODIs were remarkable even though his game was built against technical correctness. Only 8 of the 39 innings were dismissals in single digits, way lower than the 19 fifty-plus scores – mark of a great batsman!

#3 Hashim Amla – 76.90 (2010)

Hashim Amla has become the lynchpin in the South African side

One of South Africa’s greatest batsmen ever, Amla scored 2307 runs in 2010 in 34 innings with 10 centuries and 8 half-centuries. His year included the invincible 253* at Nagpur that helped set up a rare innings victory for a visiting team against India in India. He followed that up with centuries in both innings of the next Test announcing himself to the world.

There were 5 ODI centuries in there too with Amla consistently managing to score over a strike-rate of 90 in ODIs despite his technically correct, orthodox and elegant game. That style of play and the truckloads of runs made him the lynchpin of the South African batting attack. 2307 was also the most runs scored by a South African in a calendar year beating Kallis’ 2007 mark of 2201.

#2 Michael Clarke – 77.62 (2012)

Michael Clarke started and finished the year with centuries to his name

Clarke scored 2251 runs in just 32 innings with 6 centuries and 8 half-centuries. 4 of those centuries were double tons – making Clarke the only man to score four double tons in the same year. One of those four was a triple ton as well. Two came in a series against India and two more came in a home Test series against South Africa.

So good was his year, that he started and finished it with centuries. What stands out is the fact that he was not-out only 3 times, and despite that, managed to score so many runs that his average was this good. His tally of runs and average took a massive hit because of a bad series in West Indies. There was just the one ODI century, even though he had plenty of starts.

#1 Virat Kohli – 86.50 (2016)

Virat Kohli has been in imperious form this year

Kohli had a year cricketers dream of. In 41 innings (the most amongst the five batsmen here – more the number of innings, more difficult it is to maintain a high average given it is a function of dismissals), Kohli amassed a whopping 2595 runs with 11 Not-outs, 7 centuries, 3 double-centuries and 13 half-centuries. Then there is the small matter of captaining the Test side through an unbeaten streak of 18 matches, the longest in the country’s history. He was also picked as the captain of the ICC ODI Team of the Year.

Kohli would really cherish the victories he garnered away from India in Sri Lanka and West Indies to add to the 3-0 and 4-0 India inflicted on New Zealand and England.

The Indian Test skipper is also the rare cricketer who has managed a 50+ career average in all three formats of the game. Kohli is already, at 28, at No.39 amongst highest run-getters across all formats, and another 3000 runs will make him jump 16 places. Kohli is head and shoulders above everyone on this list, almost 9 runs ahead of second-placed Clarke.

17 times an Indian batsman has scored 2000 runs in a calendar year. Kohli has done it thrice already, joint third with Dravid. Only Ganguly (4) and Sachin (5) have done it on more occassions. 3000 runs for King Kohli in 2017 anyone?