Leading Run Scorers for England in Test Cricket

Alastair Cook recently became the first Englishman to score 10,000 runs in Test Cricket, the youngest to achieve that surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record. England have been playing test cricket for over 130 years now, and they have had some great batsman in the likes of Micheal Vaughn, Micheal Atherton, GP Thorpe, KF Barrington and the list will continue. But, none of the mentioned names could make it to 10,000 runs elite list in Test Cricket.

Here’s a look at leading run scorers for England in Test Cricket.

(5/5)    KEVIN PIETERSEN

The Famous English batsman called as KP has made it to 5th in the list despite having played no Test Cricket since 2013. His 8,181 Test runs at 47.28 in 104 Tests with twenty-three 100s and thirty-five 50s with a strike rate of 61.72 , he had few rivals in England’s history and his record in limited-overs cricket was also outstanding. In 2013, he became the highest England run-scorer in all international forms of the game combined. For many England cricket fans, no name sparks more excitement than him. His Test cricket career beckoned with the 2005 Ashes : Pietersen’s selection ahead of Graham Thorpe representing the toughest selectorial decision of early summer. He sealed the return of the urn after 17 years with a stroke-filled 158 at The Oval on the final day of the series. England needed to avoid defeat to regain the Ashes and Pietersen was dropped three times on the way to 60, but tension gave way to scenes of jubilation as his adrenalin-charged climax included seven sixes, breaking Ian Botham’s record for England in an Ashes Test. He was named the man of the match, finished an uneven series as top scorer, with 473 runs at 52.55 He was also named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.If KP had played more tests, he surely would have made 10.000 runs earlier than anyone and would have smashed every English Record.

(4/5) DAVID GOWER

The fluffy-haired, ethereal-looking young man who pulled his first ball in Test cricket for four in 1978 was to be England’s most consistent and consistently exasperating batsman of the 1980s. Other batsmen go in and out of form: Gower always seemed to play the same – beautifully, until the moment, he made a mistake. Sometimes, the erring moment was put off long enough for him to play an innings of unforgettable brilliance.  He played 117 tests for England and made 8231 runs with an average of 44.25 scoring over 18 Centuries. A left-hander with a strong top hand, Gower’s strokes had a liquid, graceful feel: in an era of buffers, he was a caresser. When he edged a catch, he would be damned as irresponsible but, with his style, the difference between an exquisite stroke and a nick was little more than an inch. His character appeared as uncomplicated as his cricket, but his devil-may-care attitude hid some complexities, even perhaps an inner loneliness. Lazy journalists called him “laid-back” but you don’t score 8231 Test runs without a cladding of steel.  He retired prematurely into a career as a TV personality so successful that his cricket seemed mere preparation.

(3/5)  ALEC STEWART

When Stewart was in full flow, there were few who could live with him. Relying on touch, he was in his element against the quicks, cover-driving with a neat flourish and pulling with panache- most memorably when he thundered two centuries during England’s storming of fortress Bridgetown in 1993-94. He was less secure against the spinners, however, and his instinctive style meant his career was a sequence of purple patches and less colourful troughs. Stewart played 133 test matches for England, the most by any English cricketer till now and scored over 8463 runs with an average of 39.54 amassing over 15 100s as the wicket-keeper batsman. He scored a century in his 100th Test, the sheer length of the standing ovation he received suggested that Stewart had become a national institution. Against India at Lord’s in 2002, he crowned his achievements by becoming England’s most-capped Test cricketer, overtaking Graham Gooch’s record of 118 matches. His love of the football manager-style soundbite has earned him the nickname Gaffer.Stewart now works in the media and acts as an executive director of Surrey.

(2/5)  GRAHAM GOOCH

  

(1/5) ALASTAIR COOK

 

This English Captain just crossed the 10,000 runs in Test Cricket and became the youngest one to do so breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s Record.