Top 5 New Zealand batting pairs of all-time

Wright and Edgar were a formidable batting pair during their time
Wright and Edgar were a formidable batting pair during their time

New Zealand are one of the strongest teams in world cricket and have produced several world class cricketers over the years. They have consistently provided several brilliant batsmen across all three formats.

Over the years, several wonderful batsmen have come and gone, leaving their mark in New Zealand and international cricket. There have also been some Kiwi batsmen who found reliable partners in other great Kiwi batsmen.

Here are the Top 5 New Zealand batting pairs of all-time.

#5. Bruce Edgar and John Wright

Bruce Edgar and John Wright were one of the finest batting pairs during the early and mid-80s. Edgar and Wright formed a formidable opening pair from 1978-1986. Their partnerships helped the Kiwis to a number of wins during that period. The duo added a total of 3466 runs across both Tests and ODIs, 3175 of them being opening stands.

Wright and Edgar added 4 century stands- one in Tests and three in ODIs. Their only century stand in Test cricket was a partnership of 100 against Australia at Sydney in 1985. The duo's highest partnership in ODIs is a third-wicket stand of 120 against Australia at Adelaide on January, 1986.

#4. Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson

New Zealand v Pakistan - 2nd T20
Guptill and Williamson hold the record for the highest T20I partnership for any wicket

Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson are two of the most crucial players in the current New Zealand side. Both players have played several significant knocks for the team but have also stitched some brilliant partnerships between themselves.

Guptill and Williamson have amassed a total of 4015 runs across all three formats in partnerships. Many of them have significantly contributed to New Zealand’s victory. Most of these partnerships are for the second wicket. Guptill and Williamson hold the record for the most number of runs by any New Zealand batting pair in T20Is with 1012.

The duo have built 9 century partnerships across all three formats- 1 in Tests, 5 in ODIs and three in T20Is. Their solitary century partnership in Tests is the highest partnership between the two. It’s 173 against Sri Lanka for the second wicket at Dunedin in December, 2015.

In ODIs, the highest partnership between the duo is a second wicket stand 153 against India at Auckland in January, 2014. In T20Is, the duo had their first century stand of 137 against Zimbabwe at Auckland in February, 2012. Their highest partnership in T20Is is an unbroken opening stand of 171 against Pakistan at Hamilton last January. It remains the highest T20I partnership for any wicket.

#3. Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum

England v New Zealand - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
McCullum and Guptill have been one of New Zealand's most successful batting pairs

When Martin Guptill first started playing for New Zealand, he did not have too many good partnerships with Brendon McCullum. However, from late 2009 onwards, the duo became New Zealand’s strongest batting pair right up to McCullum’s retirement from international cricket.

McCullum and Guptill have 5197 runs in partnerships across all three formats. Most of these are opening stands. Nevertheless, a number of these partnerships have helped consolidate New Zealand's position in those particular matches.

The duo have stitched a total of 14 century stands- 4 in Tests, 8 in ODIs and 2 in T20Is. In Tests, the duo’s highest partnership was a mammoth 339 for the 6th wicket against Bangladesh at Hamilton in February, 2010.

In ODIs, the duo’s highest partnership was an unbroken opening stand of 166 against Zimbabwe at Ahmedabad during the 2011 World Cup. In T20Is, both of the century stands between McCullum and Guptill came in back-to-back matches against Zimbabwe. The highest one of the two was an unbroken opening stand of 127 at Harare in October, 2011.

#2. Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle

Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle of New Zealand celebrate victory...
Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle were one of the world's strongest batting pairs during their time

Two of the greatest New Zealand cricketers of all-time, Nathan Astle and Stephen were a formidable batting duo for the Kiwis during the 90s and 2000s. Fleming and Astle have added 5802 runs in partnerships across all three formats. 3814 runs out of those came in ODIs which is the highest for any Kiwi batting pair.

The partnerships between Fleming and Astle were extremely crucial and beneficial for the Kiwis’ cause. Most of the partnerships were for the first three wickets.

Fleming and Astle stitched 11 century stands- 2 in Tests and 9 in ODIs.

In Tests, the duo’s highest partnership was a fourth-wicket stand of 106 against South Africa at Cape Town in April, 2006. This was also their final century stand.

In ODIs, the duo’s highest partnership was an opening stand of 193 against Pakistan at Dunedin in February, 2001. Fleming and Astle have only one T20I partnership to their name and that is 37 against South Africa at Johannesburg in October, 2005.

#1. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor

Williamson and Taylor are the greatest batting pair from New Zealand
Williamson and Taylor are the greatest batting pair from New Zealand

Both Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor are New Zealand’s best batsmen currently. They have been a sensational batting pair for the Black Caps over the past 6 years. Williamson and Taylor have added 5848 runs in partnerships across all three formats.

The two have had 18 century stands- 7 in Tests and 11 in ODIs. Their partnerships have been extremely instrumental in New Zealand’s victories. Most of these partnerships are for the third wicket.

In Tests, the duo’s highest partnership is a third-wicket stand of 265 against Australia at Perth in November, 2015. In ODIs, the duo’s highest partnership is a third-wicket stand of 206 against England at Southampton in June, 2015. This is the highest third-wicket partnership for New Zealand in ODIs.

Williamson and Taylor do not have any century stands but they do have a half-century stand. It is a stand of 51 against South Africa at Chittagong during the 2014 ICC World T20.

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Edited by Anuradha Santhanam