Ranking top 10 active batsmen based on the distance covered between wickets in international cricket

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and is played in several parts. One might call it a complicated game as international cricket has three different formats, and each version comprises specific rules and norms. Test cricket goes on for five days, and while T20 matches don’t last more than 3.5 hours. Hence, different skill sets are required to thrive in all formats.

Regardless of the formats, modern-day cricket is known to be dominated by batsmen, with the bat sizes being humongous and boundary sizes reduced. However, one must not forget that a bowler needs just one delivery to end a batter’s run at the crease. Hence, a player can’t afford to put a foot wrong while batting.

Smashing boundaries is certainly the most popular way of scoring runs nowadays. Runs are accumulated at a better rate with this approach, and the viewers also get entertained. However, collecting runs by sprinting between the wickets requires a different craft. Managing singles are easy if the ball is smashed to a fielder outside the circle. However, certain calculations are required while running twos, threes, and even fours sometimes.

A batter needs to push the ball in a particular gap and back himself to take multiple runs. Not to forget, a player wears pads, helmets, guards, and some other heavy stuff while batting. Hence, running between the wickets isn’t as easy as it looks. Nevertheless, some batsmen have a happy knack of troubling fielders by hastening on the pitch. Here we look at-

Top current batsmen based on the distance covered on the pitch in international cricket

10. Rohit Sharma – 133.38 km

India’s vice-captain in the limited-overs format, Rohit Sharma, has been a cornerstone of the national team for over a decade. The right-handed batsman has several shots in his arsenal, and many prominent bowlers have been victims of his carnage. Sharma tends to collect runs at a rapid pace and that too by playing safe cricket.

Big-hitting has been a vital aspect of Sharma’s game, as sending the ball out of the park isn’t a massive task for him. After all, there’s some reason behind fans calling him Hitman. However, when a delivery deserves respect, Rohit also doesn’t mind collecting singles and doubles by nudging the ball here and there.

In his career span of nearly 15 years, Rohit has covered a distance of 133.38 km in the pitch. Ageing 34, a lot of cricket is certainly left in the Indian opener, and he would like to boost his tally even further.

9. Chris Gayle – 138.28 km

Seeing the Universe Boss in this list might surprise many, as running between the wickets hasn’t been his forte. However, Chris Gayle has piled a mountain of runs in international cricket, and around 1/3rd of them have come by scampering on the tracks. Back in his early days, the southpaw didn’t mind jogging on the pitch.

He even has sneaked sharp singles and doubles. However, Gayle’s speed and agility reduced with time, and you don’t see him doing much sprinting nowadays. Nevertheless, there hasn’t been any negative impact on his hitting skills. The West Indies dasher can slam towering sixes while standing still, which might be another reason he’s not concerned about his running.

To date, Gayle has covered a distance of 138.28 km in international cricket. With Gayle being in the latter half of his career and only playing T20Is, he isn’t expected to make much progress on this list. However, not many will care about the ones and twos when the veteran batsman will take bowlers to cleaners.

8. Mushfiqur Rahim – 138.32 km

Bangladesh team has taken significant strides in international cricket in the last few years, and Mushfiqur Rahim deserves a certain amount of credit. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been a proper team man as he has never hesitated in performing any duties. From leading the side to keeping wickets, Rahim has assumed multiple roles.

However, his primary job in the team is scoring runs, and Mushfiqur has been doing this job with precision. Batting in the middle-order, Rahim often comes at a crucial juncture of the game, and shining under pressure has been one of his most significant qualities. While the veteran batsman can give the ball a real whack, he’s also smart while running between the wickets.

Rahim keeps the scoreboard moving with his knack of pushing the ball in the gap and sprinting for quick runs. He has scored over 6,800 international runs with this method. In total, Mushfiqur has covered a distance of 138.32 km while running between the wickets.

7. Steve Smith – 139.97 km

One of the geniuses in modern-day cricket, Steve Smith, had to make this list. The former Australian captain has a unique way of scoring, which makes him one of a kind. His strokeplay isn’t very pleasing to the eyes, but it doesn’t matter as the Aussie star has scored runs consistently and guided Australia to many wins.

Although smashing boundaries for fun isn’t beyond Smith’s reach, he enjoys running between the wickets. The right-handed batsman tends to disturb bowlers’ length by improvising his stance and placing the ball in the gap. He then shows his agility and collects runs by hastening on the track.

So far, Smith has covered a total of 139.97 km by sprinting on the pitch. With the Aussie star being one of the fittest players going around, this tally will surely be enhanced by a lot in the time to come. However, the case could be different if Smith betters his big-hitting skills even further.

6. David Warner – 141.28 km

Smith is followed by his Australian teammate David Warner on this elite list. The dashing opener likes to attack the bowlers from the outset and collect runs early in the innings. Warner can find tiny gaps in the powerplay overs, and fielders go out of the equation when the southpaw is in the mood of going aerial.

However, boundaries are a bit harder to come by when the field gets open. In those circumstances, Warner aims to keep the scoring rate healthy by fetching runs between the wickets. He is a quick runner and doesn’t hesitate challenging fielders inside the 30-yard circle. Hence, the opposition captain hardly gets any breather when Warner is in full flow.

So far, the left-handed batsman has covered a staggering distance of 141.28 km while taking runs in international cricket. Warner has certainly now slowed down with time, and it would be interesting to see how far his tally goes.

5. Angelo Mathews – 147.27 km

Sri Lankan cricket has endured a tough time in recent years and lost one series after another across formats. Moreover, the selectors have had a difficult time in selecting a potent squad against big teams like India, Australia, and England. However, one player who has been impressive for the Lankan Lions is Angelo Mathews.

Mathews is one of the finest all-rounders to have played for Sri Lanka, and his record is also impressive. He has over 13,000 international runs alongside taking 168 wickets. Concentrating on his batting skills, Mathews can play shots all over the park. On top of that, his precise wristwork allows him to guide the balls in gaps and accumulate runs.

The veteran cricketer is also swift between the wickets and is known to take sharp singles and doubles. As a result, the Sri Lankan star has covered a distance of 147.27 km while gathering runs in international cricket.

4. Kane Williamson – 167.81 km

Next on this list is New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. The Kiwi star is one of the most valuable cricketers going around, and one can check his stellar records to verify the fact. He has been the mainstay of Blackcaps’ batting line-up ever since making his international debut in 2010.

Williamson is a sweet timer of the ball and doesn’t believe in whacking the ball hard. Picking minor gaps has been a significant aspect of Kane’s game. Hence, the fielders are always seen running here and there when Kane is in business. One might not realize, but the Kiwi talisman scores at a substantial strike rate.

This is mainly because of his brilliant running between the wickets. Williamson is an athlete and perfectly knows how many runs to take from a particular shot. Hence, he rarely gets involved in run-outs. So far, Williamson has sprinted 167.81 km while fetching runs in international cricket.

3. Joe Root – 179.05 km

Williamson’s England counterpart Joe Root also finds a place on this list and that too on a third position. Root is one of the very few batsmen who can be equally effective in all formats. While he can torment bowler for days in Test matches, the right-handed batter can accumulate quick runs in white-ball cricket.

Unlike most batters in England’s white-ball team, Root doesn’t tend to smash the ball a long way. However, that doesn’t make him any less effective. Thanks to his sound technique, the veteran cricketer often plays an anchor role and scores runs consistently. Hence, he averages nearly 50 and over 50 in Tests and ODIs respectively.

A lot of his runs have come by running between the wickets.  To date, Root has covered a staggering distance of 179.05 km while collecting runs international cricket. With Root aging 30, this tally is certain to be enhanced.

2. Ross Taylor – 187.97 km

Taylor has undoubtedly aged like fine wine and only seems to get better with time. With nearly 18,000 international runs under his belt, the 37-year-old is already New Zealand’s most successful batsman in international cricket, and he still has a lot of fire left in him.

While the veteran batsman loves hitting fours and sixes for fun, his running between the wickets also deserves appreciation. Taylor has maintained his fitness, and he doesn’t mind challenging a fielder’s arm. We have seen Taylor sneaking successful singles on numerous occasions despite the ball going to fielders inside the circle.

As a result, Taylor has covered an astonishing distance of 187.97 km while accumulating runs in international cricket. With the Kiwi star not having any plans of retirement, he would be determined to gather many more such runs.

1. Virat Kohli – 248.03 km

Now, this was as obvious as daylight! Arguably the best batsman going around, Kohli has numerous ways to score runs. While slamming fours and sixes hasn’t been a problem for the Indian skipper, his ability to sneak runs under the nose of fielders has been a slow poison for opposition teams.

Without making anyone realize, Kohli boosts up his side’s run-rate in no time. He can discover the narrowest of gaps, and his swift running has been a litmus test of many potent fielders around the world. Now, who can forget his exhibition of running between the wickets during the clash against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup?

As a result, the Indian captain tops this list, covering a sensational distance of 248.03 km between wickets in international cricket. Notably, sprinting between stumps has earned Kohli over 12,000 runs in Team India colours.

(Disclaimer: The distance mentioned in this article is approximate. Overthrows and other factors can tweak the tally a bit.)