Top 5 run scorers in Tests between 2000-2005

2 Ricky Ponting

Australia v South Africa - Third Test: Day 4

Australia's dominance in Test cricket in this era saw them pummel opposition teams to submission with ridiculous ease, and it is not a surprise that this list is dominated by Australians. Among the many fine batsmen who dominated this period, Australia's Ricky Ponting was in a class of his own due to his sheer dominance over bowling attacks.

Ponting not only scored quickly (strike rate of an astonishing 63.04) but also scored heavily and an average of 62.08 is a true reflection of the sort of damage he caused.

He not only scored quickly but also heavily, and if a top order batsman is able to do that, then the opposition does not have much of a chance. Ponting scored 5898 runs in 66 Test matches and notched up 20 hundreds as well as 22 half-centuries to emerge as one of the greatest top order batsmen to have ever played the game.