5 batting pairs with the most number of runs in Test cricket

Partnership.

It is a word that is of vital importance in the game of cricket. One single partnership can completely alter the momentum of the game, and even change the fortunes of a match.

It was one single partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman that gave India their most famous Test victory ever. After being asked to follow on, Dravid and Laxman put on a massive 376-run stand that rattled Australia at the Eden Gardens stadium and enabled Ganguly and his men to post a sensational victory in the year 2001.

In this article, let us look at 5 batting pairs with the most number of runs in Test cricket: –

5. Sir Alistair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss

At the fifth place comes the England opening pair of Sir Alistair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss. The two left handed batting greats opened for the English side 132 times and scored 5,253 runs as a pair, at an average of just over 40 (40.40).

The pair also had 14 hundred-run partnerships and 21 fifty-run partnerships in the whites for England. Out of the many marvels that they carved with the willow, the Strauss-Cook batting pair will always be remembered for the 229-run partnership against West Indies at Bridgetown. While Strauss helped himself to 142 runs, Cook missed a well-deserved century when he was dismissed by Jerome Taylor for 94.

While Cook is the highest run scorer for England, having amassed 12,472 runs, Strauss finished his Test career having scored 7.037 runs for his side in Test cricket.

4. Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer

Occupying the fourth place is the Australian left-handed batting duo of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer. The two batsmen opened the innings together for the Kangaroos 122 times and scored 6,081 runs as a pair. They also had 14 century partnerships and 28 fifty-run stands between them. As a pair, they averaged a prolific 51.53 in Tests.

Langer and Hayden will be remembered for the 255-run partnership that they shared between them as they ripped apart the bowling attack of the visiting Sri Lankan side in the year 2004. Even though Sri Lanka had the wily Chaminda Vaas and the crafty Lasith Malinga in their ranks, they were unable to stop the batting duo. Their sensational first-wicket partnership powered Australia to a first innings total of 517.

While Langer retired from Test cricket in the year 2007, Hayden played his last Test for the kangaroos in the year 2009.

3. Sir Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes

If there was one pair whom the bowlers shuddered bowling to, it was the destructive pair of Sir Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes. The two West Indian legends opened the innings for the indomitable West Indies on 148 occasions and scored 6,482 runs together in Tests. Greenidge and Haynes also shared as many as 16 century partnerships between them.

Their most prolific effort came in the year 1990, when they shared a 298-run partnership for the first wicket against England. While Greenidge was run out for 149, Haynes scored 167, and made the England bowling attack appear clueless. Their opening salvo allowed West Indies to thrash England by an innings and 32 runs.

Greenidge retired from Test cricket in the year 1991, and Haynes walked away from the game in the year 1994.

2.Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene

They were two batting giants from the island of Sri Lanka who captivated the cricketing world with the willow in hand. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene played 120 innings together for Sri Lanka and scored 6554 runs at an average of 56.50. The pair also have 19 hundreds-run partnerships and 27 fifty-run partnerships between them.

And, the most famous association between the duo which is now a part of Sri Lankan cricketing folklore was the 624-run partnership that they shared against South Africa at Colombo. While Jayawardene scored a classic 374, Sangakkara scored a pristine 287 as the pair sent the visitors on a leather hunting spree.

The left handed Sangakkara is the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in Tests with 12,400 runs, with Jayawardene occupying the second place with 11,814 runs to his name.

1.Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid

One was the master. The other was a technician of the highest quality. And, in an association that lasted more than a decade and a half, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid sliced through bowling attacks with splendor and grace.

No batting pair has scored more runs in Tests than the illustrious duo of Dravid and Tendulkar. The two Indian batting icons played 143 innings together in Tests, and plundered 6,920 runs at an average of 50.51. They also shared as many as 20 century partnerships and 29 half-century stands between them.

The highest association between the two legends was the 249-run partnership that they shared against a toothless Zimbabwe attack in the year 2000. While Tendulkar blasted a 281 ball 201, Dravid scored a sedate 162 as the duo catapulted India to a huge first innings total of 609/6.

Tendulkar is, till today, the highest run-scorer in Tests, with 15,921 runs to his name, while Dravid is a behemoth in his own right, having scored 13288 runs in Tests.

Note: All stats have been taken from Cricinfo and Howstat cricket and have been updated as on 31st August 2020