Unarguably, opening the batting in Test cricket has been acknowledged as the toughest job in the game. Unlike those below them, the openers do not have the luxury of making merry against a much older ball and a relatively tired bowling attack. It is not an uncommon sight nowadays with even spinners taking the new ball on rapidly deteriorating pitches in the subcontinent which brings another dimension to the challenges faced at the top of the order.
One such stoic opener, who also happens to lead England, entered unchartered territory during the opening day of the second Test against Bangladesh at Mirpur. Alastair Cook became the first batsman in the sport’s history to complete 10,000 runs while opening the innings. Aside from the resolute left-hander, there have also been quite a few other batsmen who helped shape innumerable games from the top with their consistency and appetite for run-making.
Let us take a look at the top five batsmen who have scored the most runs as openers in Tests.
#5 Virender Sehwag
A slayer of bowling attacks himself, Matthew Hayden once said of Virender Sehwag – “Tests are all about strategy. Virender destroys all strategies. He brings the excitement and drama from the first ball. If Test cricket is still alive, it is because of players like him. It’s good for the game.” The sheer exhilaration that the ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ can only be felt while watching him bat in Tests.
Also Read: 5 reasons why we miss Virender Sehwag
Not one to care about conventions or personal milestones, Sehwag batted without any inhibition and often tore bowling attacks apart within the first session itself. Among the best ever players of spin in his era, his double century at Galle against the rampaging duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis was a perfect illustration of the damage that he could do.
Overall Career: 8586 runs from 180 innings at an average of 49.34 and strike-rate of 82.23 with 23 centuries and 32 fifties
Runs as an opener: 8207 runs from 170 innings at an average of 50.04 with 22 centuries and 30 fifties
#4 Matthew Hayden
An integral part of the all-conquering Australia side of the early 2000s, Matthew Hayden cut an imposing figure at the crease. The left-hander stood tall and bludgeoned bowling units without breaking a sweat. Though he initially made a mark with a century against the likes of Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop in the 1997 Adelaide Test, the Queenslander came into his own during the famous 2001 series in India.
When confronted with the deadly combination of Harbhajan Singh and turning tracks, Hayden swept his way to become the leading run-scorer in a series which Australia eventually lost 1-2. At home, he was even more dangerous with opposition teams often ending the first day of a Test upon receiving a hammering at his hands.
Overall Career: 8625 runs from 184 innings at an average of 50.73 and strike-rate of 60.10 with 30 centuries and 29 fifties
Runs as an opener: Same as above
#3 Graeme Smith
Leading South Africa’s Test team by example, Graeme Smith carved out a fierce reputation for himself by not backing away from particularly tough situations. He did not have any choice but to rise to the challenge after being thrown to the deep end at a young age. Given the captaincy at 22, the southpaw grew in stature by showing his prowess at the top of the order.
He had an uncanny ability to play high-impact knocks against demanding bowling attacks. Among those were his 259 at Lord’s 108 at Perth and 234 at Dubai all of which resulted in memorable victories. Smith was dubbed as ‘the bravest man in world cricket’ by the press when he walked out to bat at Sydney with a broken arm.
Overall Career: 9265 runs from 205 innings at an average of 48.25 and strike-rate of 59.67 with 27 centuries and 38 fifties
Runs as an opener: 9030 runs from 196 innings at an average of 49.07 with 27 centuries and 36 fifties
#2 Sunil Gavaskar
Armed with a technique which could possibly be the most water-tight in the game’s history, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar blunted numerous accomplished pacers with his dogged approach. The Mumbaikar managed to win over the Caribbean region through his exploits which even resulted in a Calypso. His 221 at The Oval against the likes of Bob Willis, Sir Ian Botham and Mike Hendrick almost made a near impossible target appear reachable.
Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar – the architect of modern Indian batting
Richie Benaud, the man who could hold claim to being the ‘Voice of Cricket’, had selected Gavaskar as one of the openers in his all-time XI. There cannot possibly be a bigger tribute than that to the legend of ‘Sunny’.
Overall Career: 10,122 runs from 214 innings at an average of 51.12 with 34 centuries and 45 fifties
Runs as an opener: 9607 runs from 203 innings at an average of 50.29 with 33 centuries and 42 fifties
#1 Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook gave an indication of the things to come after he received a surprise call-up to the England team on a sluggish surface at Nagpur against a bowling attack which featured Anil Kumble and Harbhajan. Despite the odds not being in his favour, he totalled 164 runs in the Test with a stellar second-innings ton, showing his mettle on seemingly alien conditions.
10 years since his Test debut, Cook has established himself as a prolific and remorseless run-getter with his sights now set on much bigger things. Suddenly, Sachin Tendulkar’s monstrous record of 15,921 runs from 200 Tests does not look too far away from the England skipper’s reach.
(Note: All Statistics below are accurate as of 29th October 2016 upon Alastair Cook’s dismissal in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh at Mirpur)
Overall Career: 10,629 runs from 242 innings at an average of 46.82 with 29 centuries and 51 fifties
Runs as an opener: 10,002 runs from 229 innings at an average of 46.30 with 27 centuries and 49 fifties
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