10 greatest No. 5 batsmen in Test cricket history

#9 Thilan Samaraweera

Thilan Samaraweera is best known for narrowly escaping a gun attack in Pakistan

Thilan Samaraweera	Innings	Runs	Average	100s/50s
No. 5 overall	93	3903	47.59	11/21
No. 5 at home	43	1796	49.88	5/10
No. 5 away	50	2107	45.80	6/11

Thilan will always be remembered for being the man who had a brush with death on that fateful day when the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Pakistan. But he was also part of one of Sri Lanka’s most formidable middle orders that saw them do well at home and away.

Mostly a gritty batsman who preserved his wicket, Samaraweera averaged close to 50 at home but played more away, managing 32 fifty-plus scores, close to 1/3rd of the innings he played at No. 5. Wristy and usually calm during a crisis, Samaraweera complemented Mahela Jayawardene who preceded him in the batting order.