Greatest Cricket Batsmen of All Time
Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar after becoming the highest run-getter in Mohali, India, in 2008. He might be cricket’s leading scorer, but he’s not number one on this list. Gautam Singh / AP Photo
Cricket is a batsman’s game. Some batsmen paint beautiful pictures with their strokes and score runs. Some make runs with patience and grit. Some destroy bowling attacks with an onslaught.
At the end of the match, what counts is how many runs are scored, no matter how they come.
Players can win matches with their batting. They also can save matches.
These are the best match-winners/savers with the bat in cricket history.
Note: To qualify, batsmen must have a minimum of 5,000 runs in international cricket. For players who played before the introduction of One Day International (ODI) matches on Jan. 5, 1971, only Tests are considered.
50. Yuvraj Singh
Experience: 2000-present
Country: India
Other major teams: Punjab, Kings XI Punjab
Career stats in Tests: 40 matches, 1,900 runs, 33.92 average, 169 highest score, 3 100s
Career stats in ODIs: 304 matches, 8,701 runs, 36.55 average, 87.67 strike rate, 150 highest score, 14 100s
Bottom Line for Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was an X factor for India in his heyday. He started his career by scoring an 80-ball 84 against the mighty Australians. Although he has had his ups and downs in his career, he did well for India in its victorious campaigns in the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup.
In the 2007 World T20, Yuvi hit six sixes in an over against Stuart Broad and helped himself to a 12-ball fifty, the fastest fifty in T20Is. He played another gem of a knock against Australia by scoring 70 off just 30 balls, including five sixes.
In the 2011 World Cup, he battled cancer and became the player of the tournament for his all-round display. He made 362 runs at an average of 90.50 and picked up 15 wickets at an average of 25.13.
49. Geoffrey Boycott
Experience: 1964-82
Country: England
Other major teams: Yorkshire
Career stats in Tests: 108 matches, 8,114 runs, 47.72 average, 246 highest score, 22 100s
Career stats in ODIs: 36 matches, 1,082 runs, 36.06 average, 53.66 strike rate, 105 highest score, 1 100s
Bottom Line for Geoffrey Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott was one of the most successful openers in his era. He still is the sixth-highest run-getter of all time as an opener with 8,091 runs at an average of 48.16.
Most batsmen would be well past his prime after they turn 35. Boycott, on the other hand, piled on runs, making 3,535 runs at an average of 47.77.
His average, 58.76, is the best average in the fourth innings of a Test match for players who have scored at least 1,000 runs in the last innings of a Test.