Ashes: Five highest run-getters in cricket’s oldest rivalry

Cricket fans must gear up to witness Test cricket of the highest quality as Australia and England are set to cross swords in Ashes 2021-22. Hailed as the oldest cricket rivalry, Ashes has experienced some thrilling contests over the years. While the ball tends to swing in England conditions, batters need to tackle bounce down under. Also, the pressure of delivering at such a high-profile event is a stern challenge. Nevertheless, several batters have embraced this challenge.

Meanwhile, let’s look at the top five highest run-scorer in Ashes history:

David Gower – 3037 runs

One of the finest batters to have played for England, David Gower liked playing against the Aussies. The left-handed batter had a solid defence which allowed him to tackle the best of bowlers. Known for his lazy elegance, Gower mustered his runs in an eye-catching manner. Overall, Gower featured in 46 Tests and slammed 3037 runs, which includes nine centuries.

Steve Waugh – 3173

The former Australian captain was nothing but a force to reckon with in his illustrious career. While his sharp cricketing brain helped him make impeccable decisions, his batting grit also helped the Aussies. As far as his Ashes numbers are concerned, Waugh slammed 3173 runs in 45 Tests including 10 centuries.

Allan Border – 3222

From one Australian captain, we go to another as Allan Border is next in this elite list. The left-handed batter played numerous magnificent knocks in his illustrious career and many of them came against England. Border had a solid defence and his ability to play attacking shots made him an even greater asset. He slammed 3222 runs in 42 Ashes Test matches including seven hundreds.

Jack Hobbs – 3636

The man with the most centuries (199) in First-Class cricket, Jack Hobbs occupies second place on this list. The right-handed batter was known for his consistent performances and ability to notch up big hundreds. Coming to his Ashes record, Hobbs slammed 3636 runs in 41 Tests including 12 hundreds.

Don Bradman – 5028

Now, this was on the cards! Bradman played 37 of his 52 Tests against England and piled up a mountain of runs against the Three Lions. He belonged to the rare breed of batters who could score consistently with a brilliant strike rate. Overall, he slammed 5028 Test runs against England including 19 hundreds. In fact, two of five triple hundreds in Ashes history belong to Bradman.