Top 5 run-scorers in Tests between 1992 and 1997

The 1990s has been a very significant decade for world cricket as it has witnessed the emergence of several remarkable batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Mike Atherton, Sourav Ganguly and Jacques Kallis.

The time period between 1992 and 1997 witnessed several stupendous batting performances in Tests. Many batsmen were extremely consistent despite facing world-class bowlers. Let us take a look at the leading run-scorers in that particular five-year phase.

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#5 Alec Stewart and Mark Taylor - 3935 runs

Alec Stewart was a prolific run-scorer during the 1990s

Alec Stewart and Mark Taylor jointly occupy the fifth position in this list. Both have also been captains of their respective teams during this period. They scored 3935 runs each including identical tallies of 20 fifties and nine centuries.

During this period, Taylor established himself as a quality opening batsman in Tests and was instrumental in Australia's meteoric rise in Tests. He scored 52.3 percent of his 7525 Test runs from 112 innings at an average of 37.12. The left-hander's highest score during this period was 170 against South Africa at Melbourne.

Stewart was a late bloomer as is evident by the fact that he made his Test debut in his late 20s. However, he still managed to produce some stunning performances during the 1990s. The elegant right-hander was the highest run-scorer of the 1990s with 6407 runs. However, he had to settle for fifth position during the five-year phase.

While it took 112 innings for Mark Taylor to score 3935 runs, Stewart took only 96 innings to score that many runs at an average of 43.54. He hit nine of his 15 centuries during this period and won five of his seven Man of the Match awards in Tests. He also won his only Man of the Series award during this period.

Stewart scored his career-best Test score of 190 against Pakistan in 1992. During this period, he also captained England in the absence of regular skipper Graham Gooch.

#4 Mark Waugh - 4062 runs

Mark Waugh was second among the top highest run-scorers during the 1990s

Mark Waugh was the second highest run-scorer of the 1990s with 6371 runs at an average of 41.64. Out of these, 4062 runs (more than 50 percent of his Test runs) came from 1992-1997. Waugh scored those runs at an average of 39.05, amassing 28 of his 47 Test fifties and nine of his 20 Test hundreds.

Waugh did not have a good 1992 but came back strong in 1993 by scoring 987 runs for the year. He continued to impress in the years to come as he established himself as the mainstay of Australia's batting. His brilliant middle order batting was among the key reasons why Australia dominated Test Cricket during the 1990s.

Waugh's highest Test score during this period was 140 against England at Brisbane in 1994. Waugh won 4 of his five Man of the Match awards from 1992-1997.

#3 Mike Atherton- 4077 runs

Mike Atherton was one of the best openers during the 1990s

Former England skipper Mike Atherton was one of the finest batsmen in the 1990s. This is evident by the fact that he scored 6217 runs at an average of 38.37 throughout the decade and was the fourth highest run-scorer.

Out of those 6217 runs, 4077 (nearly 53 percent of his 7728 Test runs) came from 1992-1997. Atherton scored these runs at an impressive average of 42.46 including 26 of his 46 Test fifties and half of his 16 Test centuries during this period.

It was during this period that Atherton scored his career-best Test score of 185 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1995. This knock helped England to salvage a draw. Atherton won two of his seven Man of the Match awards and one of his four Man of the Series awards in this phase.

#2 Brian Lara - 4084 runs

Brian Lara flayed even accomplished bowlers to all parts of the ground

One of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game, Brian Lara was the seventh highest run-scorer during the 1990s with 5573 runs at an average of 51.60. 4084 runs out of those (73.3 percent) came from 1992-1997.

This period was when Lara established himself as a nightmare for any bowler. He scored 4084 runs from just 80 innings at an impressive average of 52.35. The stylish southpaw also registered 20 of his 48 Test fifties and 10 of his 34 Test hundreds.

Lara scored his maiden Test century in 1993 which was a mammoth 277 against Australia at Sydney. The following year, he hammered a brilliant 167 against England at Georgetown. Almost a month after that knock, the left-hander amassed a massive 375 at Antigua which was the highest individual score in Test cricket at that time.

Lara played some scintillating knocks from 1992-1997 but even that wasn't enough to overtake the top position holder in this list.

#1 Steve Waugh- 4106 runs

Steve Waugh was the highest run-scorer from 1992 to 1997

The highest run-scorer in Tests from 1992-1997 was Steve Waugh. Waugh scored 6213 runs throughout the entire decade and was fifth among the highest run-scorers during the 1990s. The right-hander accumulated 4106 runs from 86 innings at an impressive average of 58.65. He registered 23 of his 50 Test fifties and 11 of his 32 Test centuries during this period.

Before 1992, Waugh had suffered a dip in form which eventually led to his brother making his Test debut at his expense. However, he roared back to form in 1993 during important series against West Indies and England.

During this period, Waugh scored his highest Test score of 200 against West Indies at Kingston in 1995. With his strong temperament, he also established himself as one of the finest and most consistent batsmen in the world.