The Ashes: Top 5 run-scorers in single edition

For Australian and England players, the Ashes emerges as the top opportunity to prove their skills and become valuable assets for their teams. Sir Donald Bradman, who is considered the greatest Test batter of all time, powered Australia several times with his batting potential against the arch-rivals England. In his 20-year career, Bradman became the highest run-scorer in the Australia-England rivalry series six times.

Like the Aussie legend, there were a few batters from both Australian and England sides who performed excellently with their bats and came out as top run-scorers. In the last 40 years, some players attracted attention for not only becoming the leading run-getters but also for scoring the maximum runs in an Ashes series.

Here are the top 5 run-getters in a single Ashes edition (Last 40 years) 

5. Steve Smith (2017-18)- 687 runs 

In the 2017-18 Ashes played Down Under, Australia thumped England by 4-0 and snatched the urn. Steve Smith, the captain of the Australia cricket team, led his side from the front and became the highest run-scorer in the competition, amassing 687 runs with three tons and two fifties in seven innings of five matches.

The veteran played a 141-run knock in the first innings of the first Test at the Gabba and led the Aussies to a 10-wicket victory. For his scintillating innings, Smith also became the Player of the Match. In the third Test at the Western Australia Cricket Asociation (WACA) Stadium, Smith played the best knock of his Test career.

Riding on their captain’s fabulous 239-run innings, Australia beat England by an innings and 41 runs and sealed the series. Continuing his spectacular form, Smith again scored a half-century in Australia’s comprehensive innings and 123-run win in the final Test. At the end of the tournament, the veteran also became the Player of the Series.