Top 10 players with the highest combined strike rate in Tests and ODIs

Glenn Maxwell could well make an entry to this list in the futureThe rising popularity of T20 cricket has pushed the game beyond boundaries, quite literally. With batsman looking to utilize the most out of each ball, monumental totals are being chased down. The trend started with the pinch-hitters in ODI cricket, with the likes of Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya and Gilchrist starting the brisk flow of runs.Strike rate, hence, became an important criterion for evaluating a batsman in limited overs. There were also those who carried their style in the same vein in Test matches too.Here’s a list of ten players (minimum 100 international matches) with the highest combined strike rate in Tests and ODIs.

#10 Ian Smith (New Zealand)

Ian Smith was one of the first to have a strike rate in excess of 100

The former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman had an ODI strike rate close to 100, one of the first few to have the same. His 173 off 136 is the highest Test score by a No.9. During that match, he also became the joint record holder of most runs scored off a single over, scoring 24 off Atul Wassan.

Arriving at the crease with New Zealand reeling at 131-7, his brilliant rearguard action helped the team reach 391.Four years later, he made an unbeaten 113 against England at Auckland. He played his last match for the Black Caps in 1992, a time when pinch hitting was still gaining ground in the sport.

ODIs: 99.43

Tests: 63.17

Total: 162.6

#9 David Warner (Australia)

David Warner played for Australia without playing a single first-class game

The diminutive opener has been stacking up runs at quick pace, much like Sehwag did for India. Strong on the offside, his innovative approach has seen him become a successful ODI & Test player. In only his fifth Test match, he raced up to a 69-ball hundred against India (2012), the joint fourth fastest hundred in terms of balls faced (along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul).

He also holds the record for the highest Australian domestic one-day score. When he debuted in 2009, he became the first player in 132 years to play for Australia without playing a single first-class game.

ODIs: 90.05

Tests: 74.39

Total: 164.44

#8 Graeme Swann (England)

Graeme Swann was handy with the bat as well

He doesnt qualify as an all-rounder, but Swann has contributed crucial runs for England whenever the situation arose. He once partnered Michael Hussey in a 318-run stand, himself making 183, in a match forNorthamptonshire.

His Test best of 85 rescued England against South Africa at Centurion in 2009, sharing a 108-run ninth wicketstand with James Anderson. With four first-class centuries to his credit, he established himself as a useful lower order batsman. His second innings 31 at Sophia Gardens, in the 2009 Ashes helped England force a draw.

Throughout that series, he came up with crucial contributions, ending the tournament with 249runs, the fourth highest in the English list.

ODIs: 90.41

Tests: 76.49

Total: 166. 90

#7 Ricardo Powell (West Indies)

Powell was well ahead of time when he made his entry to international cricket

Debuting at the age of 20, Powell was quick to establish his reputation as a pinch-hitter in the team. He played over a hundred ODIs for the West Indians, scoring 124 against India in only his fifth match, hitting eight sixes, bettering Gordon Greenidge for a West Indies best.

However, he couldnt secure his place for long owing to his inconsistency. With a career tally of 75 sixes in 100 matches, the youngsters performances early in his career led to comparisons with the great Viv Richards, but his subsequent poor form saw his Test career end at only two matches.

ODIs: 96.96

Tests: 69.73

Total: 166.69

#6 Darren Sammy (West Indies)

Darren Sammy is one of the few West Indian all-rounders to make his presence felt across all formats

The attacking all-rounder holds the record for the fastest half-century by a West Indian in ODI history. He was entrusted with the responsibility of captaining the nation very early in his careerand has been a key figure of the team since 2010. Although he doesnt have a century to his name, his useful cameos down the order give the team the final push in the deathovers.

His only Test century till date, 106 against England in 2012, helped West Indies recover from 136-6 to 340-6.

ODIs: 100.05

Tests: 67.88

Total: 167.93

#5 Adam Gilchrist (Australia)

Gilchrist revolutionised the role of wicketkeeper-batsmen in cricket

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman was indispensable for the Australian team, providing the impetus at the top of the order regularly. In Tests, his batting revolutionized the role of the No.7, scoring rapid centuries that would tilt the outcome of the game.

Gilly holds the record for the second most ODI and Test centuries by a wicketkeeper-batsman, behind Kumar Sangakkara. He also has the most sixes ina Test career (100). His century against England, in 2006, is the third fastest century ever in Tests.

One of only three International cricketers to have won three World Cups, he capped his last World Cup match with an unbeaten 149 against Sri Lanka in the finalof the 2007 World Cup.

ODIs: 96.96

Tests: 81.95

Total: 178.91

#4 Tim Southee (New Zealand)

Southee is a more than useful lower order batsman

Like Perera, Southee is primarily a bowler who can wield the long handle to good effect. He has a first-class century and three Test fiftiesbut generally bats very low down the order. Debuting at the age of 19, he marked his first match in international cricket with a 40 ball-77 in the second innings. Coming in at No.10, his inningscomprisedof nine sixes and four fours.

In a relatively young Test career, he has already gone past fifty career sixes. Hes only the fourth New Zealander, after Brendon McCullum, Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan, to achieve this feat.

ODIs: 93.60

Tests: 86.54

Total: 180.14

#3 Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka)

Perera has been a handy lower-order batsman for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket

An integral part of the Sri Lankan middle order, Perera provides depth to the team, coming up with quick runs late in the innings. He once hit Robin Peterson for 34 runs in a single over, making it the second costliest over in ODIs.

He has five ODI half-centuries already in a relatively young career. Inducted in the team as a replacement for Angelo Matthews in 2009, he made his Test debut two years later, against England at Cardiff. Hes yet to cement his place in the Test teamand has been out of favour in the longest format since 2012.

ODIs: 108.69

Tests: 73.02

Total: 181.71

#2 Virender Sehwag (India)

Sehwag never paid due to the bowlers reputation

The former Indian opener constructed a great career by generating huge scores consistently, that too at amazing speeds. He holds the record for the fastest triple century in Tests, and the second fastest double in ODIs. And, he has the joint most triple centuries in Tests.

Among all Test cricketers with more than 2000 runs, he holds the record for the highest strikerate. His ability to score fast made him a match-winner in Tests, including the first win for India onPakistani soil in 21 years.

He stands fifth in the list of most Test sixes.In ODIs, his 219 (against the West Indies, 2011)was the second double hundred ever following the 200 by Sachin Tendulkar scored two years prior to Sehwags knock.

ODIs: 104.33

Tests: 82.33

Total: 186.66

#1 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Afridi likes to go after the bowling right from ball one

A compulsive hitter of the cricket ball, Afridi is, unsurprisingly, at the top of the list. With a strike rate of 117 in ODIs spread over fifteen years, Afridi was a threat in limited overs, coming up with quick cameos, and was able to clear the boundary at will.

He started his international career with a 37-ball hundred, a world record that stayed put for a number of years. In spite of never having faced 100 deliveries in a single ODI innings,he has six centuries to his name.

He played just 27 Tests in a 12 year period, stacking up five centuries, three of them against arch-rivals India.

ODI: 117

Tests: 86.97

Total: 203.97