Runs at the top – 5 openers with most runs in Test cricket

Opening the batting is one of the highly specialised jobs in cricket. The opening pair has to face the best of the opposition’s bowling attacks at their freshest. They have to gauge the conditions first and adapt their batting style according to the situations without having others to go before them. Test cricket has been enriched with some of the most fantastic openers. Here are five batsmen who scored the most runs as an opener.

Virender Sehwag

The Indian batsman changed the way Test openers were expected to bat. Marauding bowlers from ball one, Sehwag was India’s primary opener for 11 years from 2002. His 8207 runs (99 Tests) were scored at an average of 50.04 with 22 centuries. He also smashed two triple centuries and holds the record for India’s highest individual score in Test cricket.

Matthew Hayden

The dashing Australian opener enjoyed the privilege of owning the world record of highest individual Test score. Hayden’s knock of 380 came against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003. In total, he added 8625 runs in 103 Test matches. He averaged above 50 and celebrated 30 Test centuries during his 15-year reign.

Graeme Smith

Smith not only carried out the job of opening the innings for South Africa but also led his side with unprecedented success. In 114 Test matches, the left-hander accumulated 9030 runs at an average of 49.07 with 27 centuries. He stayed at the top of the innings for 12 years from 2002 to 2014.

Sunil Gavaskar

One of India’s most technically astute batsmen, Gavaskar was an idol for many Indian generations. After his stellar debut in 1971, the little master scored 9607 runs in 119 Tests while averaging above 50. The opener went on to score 33 Test centuries against some of the best bowling attacks of his time.

Alastair Cook

The English maestro opened the innings for his team in 154 Test matches while no other batsman has done so in more 119 Test matches. Cook went on to accumulate 11845 runs during his reign. He went the mark of 100 runs 31 times in his 12 years long stint.