Top run-scorers at a venue in Test cricket
Every player has that one opponent, an opposition team, or a venue they are comfortable dealing with. Speaking of the record for most runs scored at a venue in Test cricket, there are some unexpected names in the top ten, and players such as Ponting and Bradman do not even make the top five. Legendary former South African all-rounder Jaques Kallis gets the fourth spot for scoring 2,181 runs at Newlands, and the former England captain Graham Gooch gets the fifth spot for scoring 2,015 runs at Lord’s.
But who occupies the top three? Here are the top run-scorers in a venue in Test cricket:
3. Kumar Sangakkara – Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
The third spot is occupied by Kumar Sangakkara, who has 2,312 runs in Colombo at an average of 57.91, along with eight hundreds and seven fifties, in 22 matches and 34 innings during 2000-14. Sangakkara has a top score of 287 on this venue from 2006, in which, he along with Mahela Jayawardene set the world record partnership of 624 runs. Sangakkara stands sixth in the list of top run-scorers in Tests with 12,400 runs in 134 matches and 233 innings with an average of 57.40.
2. Mahela Jayawardene – Galle International Stadium, Galle
One of the legends of Sri Lankan cricket and one of the most prolific batters in Tests, Jayawardene, Jayawardene scored 2,382 runs in Galle at an average of 70.05. He scored seven hundreds and 12 fifties in the venue in 23 matches and 37 innings. Jayawardene’s famous innings of 237 came in Galle against South Africa in 2004. While he top-scored in the innings, the second-highest score was 69 by number nine Chaminda Vaas.
- Mahela Jayawardene – Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Jayawardene stands at the top of the list with 2,921 runs scored in Colombo. He scored as many runs in 42 innings during 1997-2014 at an average of 74.89. He has also hit 11 hundreds and nine fifties and a top score of 374 on the venue. Jayawardene is regarded as one of the best batters in Test cricket. He also stands ninth on the list of highest run-scorers in Tests with 11,814 runs in 149 matches and 252 innings.