"Shahid Afridi changed the mindset of opening in Test cricket" : Wasim Akram

[MenInG]

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes it was Shahid Afridi and not Virender Sehwag who redefined the concept of opening the batting in Test cricket.

"In Test cricket, Sehwag came later but in 1999-2000 Shahid Afridi changed the mindset of opening in Test cricket. Even if I was the bowler, I would know that I can get him out but also know that he can hit me for boundaries. He used to hit lose deliveries for sixes at will," said Akram while chatting with Afridi on a YouTube chat show.

Many in the cricket fraternity, including the likes of David Warner, believe that it was Sehwag who started for bowlers having a difficult time at the start of a Test match.

Akram revealed that Afridi, who made his debut as an opener in Test cricket against Australia in 1998, was not supposed to be a part of that Pakistan side which toured India in 1999-2000 where the swashbuckling all-rounder made his name as a Test batsman.

Afridi scored his maiden Test century in the first Test at Chennai to help Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series which visitors went on to win 2-1.

"I called Imran Khan before the tour selection. I told him 'skipper I want to take Shahid Afridi on tour but a few selectors were against it. He told me 'You should definitely take him, he will win a one-two Test matches and make him open the batting'," said the former left-arm pacer.

"I generally discussed a lot with Imran, sometimes before the tour, sometimes during the tour and his suggestions always came in handy," he added.

"What a knock it was on that Chennai track. Afridi used to dance down the track and hit (Anil) Kumble and (Suni) Joshi for sixes," Akram said recalling the 141-run knock played by Afridi in the Chennai Test.

Afridi, however, could not establish himself as a regular Test player as he managed to play just 27 Tests for Pakistan and scored just five hundreds.

Sehwag, on the other hand, represented India in 104 Test matches and scored 23 centuries, including 2 triple hundreds.

https://www.gulftoday.ae/en/sport/2...-redefined-opening-in-test-cricket-says-akram

 

[Saj]

Afridi's Test career doesn't do justice to his ability.

Sadly he just became a batsman who could score you quick runs now and then in T20s and ODIs. But he had ability as a Test batsman, but he didn't fulfill that ability.

 

[King_Kohli]

How many runs Afridi made as test opener?

 

[gazza619]

Afridi's Test career doesn't do justice to his ability.

Sadly he just became a batsman who could score you quick runs now and then in T20s and ODIs. But he had ability as a Test batsman, but he didn't fulfill that ability.

I actually feel the total opposite. Afridi was never really a test batsman or a test bowler. His test record is decent though which suggest he performed more than his ability.

27 tests are way way too much to play someone like Afridi if I am being honest.

 

[munda_khi]

what about srikanth, sidhu, jayasuriya, greatbatch, etc

 

[Savak]

Afridi's Test career doesn't do justice to his ability.

Sadly he just became a batsman who could score you quick runs now and then in T20s and ODIs. But he had ability as a Test batsman, but he didn't fulfill that ability.

He rightfully decided to bid farewell to the format when he felt he didn't enjoy it anymore.

 

[ElRaja]

biggest disservice to pak cricket was to have asad shafiq batting at 6 in the middle east, i have no doubt afridi would have outperformed him with the bat in the spin dominant coniditons of the uae, and would have chipped in with the ball too.

 

[hitthestump]

Afridi over fulfilled his own career potential by transforming himself from a batting all rounder into a showman. He certainly didn't slog every ball in the beginning of his career, but then he quickly figured out that there was money and fame to be had by doing so.

Financially he maxed out for sure.

 

[gazza619]

what about srikanth, sidhu, jayasuriya, greatbatch, etc

Yep it may actually be Srikanth who introduced this style as an opener. Saw very little of him but boy he was a brilliant hitter.

 

[Varun]

It's the first time I've ever heard this.

 

[AAli98]

No Mr Akram I think you will find Michael Slater changed the mindset of opening batting in test cricket.

 

[QalandarFan]

biggest disservice to pak cricket was to have asad shafiq batting at 6 in the middle east, i have no doubt afridi would have outperformed him with the bat in the spin dominant coniditons of the uae, and would have chipped in with the ball too.

That would be fine and dandy but Afridi himself didn't like playing tests. He was a reulcatant test player and he only came back after 2006 for like 1 series in 2010 against Australia and played that and retired again. Afridi had so much potential in Tests but he just didn't want to play the longest format of the game post 2006 especially.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It was Jayasuriya who changed it first.

 

[MMHS]

I think, first guy to play as Test opener with an aggressive mindset (after WW2 - before that, I read both Hobbs & Trumper were aggressive openers) was Colin Milburn - born in 1941, debuted in 1966 and had to retire for accidental eye sight loss by 1968 with 9 Tests in credit. But, in that 6 Tests, he averaged 46.71, scored 654 runs and over 65% of runs from boundaries (91X4, 11X6), in an era when Openers role was totally different. His FC record is much inferior because for County games, which was scheduled for 3 days (around 350 overs) and he played to enforce a result - most of his 23 FC hundreds came at better than run a minute. IICRC, somewhere I read that 12 (or 13) of Milburn's 23 hundreds came in one session of batting, some of them in 1st session of Day 1. Another reason for his inferior FC record is that he tried to make a come back with one eye for a season or two and ended with tail-ender's average.

Those days, they often didn't keep count of balls (batsman's SR was calculated based on time!!!! - how long he has batted, that's till as late as 1960s - that's why Cricket is the most outdated & laid back traditionalists of modern games), but I have read that his average SR would have been around 70%, or roughly 75 runs in a session - in an era, when Openers like Boycott, Hanif, Butcher, Bill Lawry ... ended not out after full days play (of 100+ overs, over rate was different those days) and somewhere between 75 to 100...... His last Test innings was at Karachi, 1969 - scored 139 out of 234 (when he was in), and 137 of those in Day one, bating out around 75 overs, where his other mates scored 79, on a dead slow Karachi track. Sadly that game was abandoned at lunch on Day three for crowd disturbance, and English players didn't return to ground for Day 4 & 5 - a month later, Milburn lost his eye sight to a fatal car accident.
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] - have you seen Milburn playing in archives? Last he played with both eyes was in 1969, so obviously you haven't seen him live.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/17018.html

 

[Markhor]

Please ! I know Wasim is mates with Afridi and all, but Michael Slater and Sanath Jayasuriya were more influential in that regard.

Afridi's brainless cowlashing was because he couldn't be bothered to spend time at the crease, not part of some calculated plan to bat aggressively.

 

[Saj]

He rightfully decided to bid farewell to the format when he felt he didn't enjoy it anymore.

He wasn't enjoying it because he knew the lure of ODIs and T20s and eventually T20 leagues would be too much to ignore.

The focus had gone and he knew that to play for as long as he had hoped to, he had to give up the 5-day format.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Sanatha Jayasuriya was unbelievable as an aggressive opener, same could be said for Michael Slater.

 

[Savak]

He wasn't enjoying it because he knew the lure of ODIs and T20s and eventually T20 leagues would be too much to ignore.

The focus had gone and he knew that to play for as long as he had hoped to, he had to give up the 5-day format.

Let's be real. Afridi was not a confirmed number 1 pick in the test side for all conditions, at best he would be picked here and there if the conditions demanded it. He made way rather than be used as musical chairs.

 

[Saj]

I would have played him as a second spinner and number 7/8 in Tests where conditions suited him, rather than risking him as an opener.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Revolutionary stuff from Wasim Akram

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I dunno know about all that but Afridi during his initial years actually did have some potential with the bat. I know he didn't end up playing alot of tests but a batting average of 36 is pretty decent for a player like him. He had two brilliant years with the bat in 2005 and 2006. I went back and looked up the stats. In 2005, he averaged 42.5 with the bat in 6 Tests at a SR of 111! The next year in 06' he did even better averaging 43 in 6 Tests at a SR of 113! Those are pretty outstanding figures considering he played against India, England, Australia, Sri Lanka and a significantly better West Indies team. What's even more interesting is that he played only 4 of these 12 Tests in Pakistan.

He also has 5 Test hundreds, one less than he has in 398 ODIs. Unfortunately all this just shows that Afridi just didn't care. He clearly had talents that not many others in international cricket had. Yet he never strived for consistency or tempering his approach just a little bit. If there was a method to his madness it would have helped out the team majorly.

But like I said, Afridi was always interested in being more of a showman than an actual cricketer. And that just tells me that he was either not very sharp or was simply selfish and wanted to be the guy that cleared the rope, regardless of whether he helped the team win or not. In an alternate universe he probably could have been a pro-wrestler.

 

[zulfiqar]

Didn't Afridi average almost 40 in Tests? That's incredible given his impact with the ball (though in memory there were only a few games were he was especially clutch with the ball). I think he could've been an impact player but we often used to drop him from tests when he would have a rough patch in ODIs. That's really what did him in. I've stated this before (along with other posters) but throughout 2000s Pak team suffered from this kind of selection. Younis Khan comes to mind too (was successful in tests - so we persisted with him in ODIs due to which Malik suffered by batting out of position).

We need to select separately for both sides. It makes sense to give a player a chance in one format when they are successful in another - but not every played has to play both. It sounds funny to conclude this about a player known to be a limited overs player but Afridi actually could've had success in tests - even in patches where his ODI performances were poor.

As for OP - it's a poor observation for sure from Wasim!

 

[zulfiqar]

Also wanted to add that the reason Afridi consistently scored more runs in test matches could be a psychological thing. When he knew he had a lot more time to bat, it could have prompted him to have more of a grip on his impulse to hit everything. Instead perhaps he was more selective in shot making. I can't analyze all of his test innings but he definitely batted differently in his test innings, apart from a few blazing knocks against India in that 2005 series where he went after everything. Younis was MoM in that Bangalore test in 05 because he put Pakistan in a difficult-to-lose position, but it was Afridi that got Pakistan home - first due to his quick knock at the top and then later with key wickets including Ganguly & Sachin.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Please ! I know Wasim is mates with Afridi and all, but Michael Slater and Sanath Jayasuriya were more influential in that regard.

Afridi's brainless cowlashing was because he couldn't be bothered to spend time at the crease, not part of some calculated plan to bat aggressively.

Arguably that's what wasims trying to say here
Afridis senseless batting created a copy cat in ms Dhoni and was the blueprint for t20 cricket as well as pinch hitters

Afridi was the ultimate entertainer and the stadiums in the uae and worldwide were his theatres

 

[Nadeemp]

Jaysurriya. He changed everything

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi smashing the Indian bowling attack to all parts on the way to 156 runs off 128 balls in a Test match at Faisalabad in 2006 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/81XeQdanhx">pic.twitter.com/81XeQdanhx</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1264599399830880264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Zaz]

The problem with shahid has always been the fact that he never could curtail his instincts and be a bit selective about hitting the ball

Yes he had shown Not away but in home like conditions he was a very useful number 7 and a 5th bowling option

Its just unfortunate he didnt have the appetite or patience to do justice to the role

 

[TeamPak95]

Afridi 156 vs India I’ve probably seen like over 30 times throughout the years and still doesn’t get old.

 

[Junaids]

Afridi reminds me of Mitchell Starc - all the talent in the world, unfortunately combined with no brains whatsoever.

I blame him for the failed careers of Imran Nazir and Umar Akmal: they saw a guy gain glory by slogging and followed his terrible path.

Afridi could have had a career as Pakistan's sole spinner outside Asia in Tests, batting at Number 9 after an amazing middle-order of Abdul Razzaq at 6, Azhar Mahmood at 7, Moin Khan/Rashid Latif at 8 and with just Shaoib Akhtar plus Wasim Akram (to 2003) and Mohammad Asif (from 2005) after him.

Just look at that team that never was!

1. Saeed Anwar
2. Mohammad Wasim
3. Younis Khan
4. Inzamam
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Abdul Razzaq
7. Azhar Mahmood
8. Rashid Latif
9. Shahid Afridi
10. Wasim Akram or Shabbir Ahmed
11. Shoaib Akhtar

The middle order would have blown away any bowling attack in the world - even the McGrath/Warne/Gillespie one would have had its work cut out.

Two things prevented this.

One was successive selectors viewing Azhar and Razzaq as alternatives, when they should have picked both.

And the other was Afridi failing to understand his ideal role - he could bowl as well as Kaneria, but added so much with his batting.

 

[jeetu]

There is some merit to Wasim's claim. Afridi's SR was nearly 75 when he played as opener. However Afridi played only 15 tests as opener. I think honor should go to Sehwag , he took it too next level with high average to match.

Test openers sorted with Strike Rate (min 1000 ball faced).
[table=width: 600, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Pos [/td][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Ave [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]1 [/td][td]V Sehwag (ICC/INDIA) [/td][td]2002-2013 [/td][td]99 [/td][td]8207 [/td][td]50.04 [/td][td]83.1 [/td][td]22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]2 [/td][td]Shahid Afridi (PAK) [/td][td]1998-2005 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]892 [/td][td]37.16 [/td][td]74.58 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]3 [/td][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2011-2020 [/td][td]84 [/td][td]7205 [/td][td]49.68 [/td][td]73.16 [/td][td]24 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]4 [/td][td]TM Dilshan (SL) [/td][td]2009-2013 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]2170 [/td][td]42.54 [/td][td]71.35 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]5 [/td][td]S Dhawan (INDIA) [/td][td]2013-2018 [/td][td]34 [/td][td]2315 [/td][td]40.61 [/td][td]66.94 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]6 [/td][td]ST Jayasuriya (SL) [/td][td]1994-2007 [/td][td]90 [/td][td]5932 [/td][td]41.48 [/td][td]65.84* [/td][td]13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]7 [/td][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2017-2019 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1424 [/td][td]38.48 [/td][td]63.57 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]8 [/td][td]K Srikkanth (INDIA) [/td][td]1981-1992 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2062 [/td][td]29.88 [/td][td]62.87* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]9 [/td][td]CH Gayle (WI) [/td][td]2000-2014 [/td][td]99 [/td][td]7028 [/td][td]43.11 [/td][td]60.71 [/td][td]15 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]10 [/td][td]BB McCullum (NZ) [/td][td]2004-2014 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1316 [/td][td]39.87 [/td][td]60.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]11 [/td][td]ML Hayden (AUS) [/td][td]1994-2009 [/td][td]103 [/td][td]8625 [/td][td]50.73 [/td][td]60.1 [/td][td]30 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]12 [/td][td]GC Smith (ICC/SA) [/td][td]2002-2014 [/td][td]114 [/td][td]9030 [/td][td]49.07 [/td][td]59.85 [/td][td]27 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]13 [/td][td]SM Warnapura (SL) [/td][td]2007-2009 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]821 [/td][td]35.69 [/td][td]58.14 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]14 [/td][td]JL Langer (AUS) [/td][td]1993-2007 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]5112 [/td][td]48.22 [/td][td]57.91 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]15 [/td][td]HD Rutherford (NZ) [/td][td]2013-2015 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]742 [/td][td]27.48 [/td][td]56.9 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]16 [/td][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2008-2020 [/td][td]60 [/td][td]4366 [/td][td]38.63 [/td][td]56.47 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]17 [/td][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]2015-2019 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]1915 [/td][td]36.82 [/td][td]56.22 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]18 [/td][td]Mohammad Hafeez (PAK) [/td][td]2003-2018 [/td][td]53 [/td][td]3539 [/td][td]37.64 [/td][td]56.14 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]19 [/td][td]Aamer Sohail (PAK) [/td][td]1992-2000 [/td][td]46 [/td][td]2630 [/td][td]36.02 [/td][td]55.99 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]20 [/td][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]974 [/td][td]57.29 [/td][td]55.97 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]21 [/td][td]Saeed Anwar (PAK) [/td][td]1990-2001 [/td][td]54 [/td][td]3957 [/td][td]47.1 [/td][td]55.96 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]22 [/td][td]PJ Hughes (AUS) [/td][td]2009-2011 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1072 [/td][td]34.58 [/td][td]55.57 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]23 [/td][td]JA Burns (AUS) [/td][td]2015-2020 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1233 [/td][td]38.53 [/td][td]55.14 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]24 [/td][td]ME Trescothick (ENG) [/td][td]2000-2006 [/td][td]76 [/td][td]5824 [/td][td]43.78 [/td][td]54.51 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]25 [/td][td]PA Jaques (AUS) [/td][td]2005-2008 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]902 [/td][td]47.47 [/td][td]54.23 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]26 [/td][td]MP Vaughan (ENG) [/td][td]2002-2008 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]3093 [/td][td]45.48 [/td][td]54.13 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]27 [/td][td]Majid Khan (PAK) [/td][td]1973-1979 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1985 [/td][td]42.23 [/td][td]53.59* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]28 [/td][td]SR Watson (AUS) [/td][td]2009-2013 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]2049 [/td][td]40.98 [/td][td]53.41 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]29 [/td][td]MJ Slater (AUS) [/td][td]1993-2001 [/td][td]74 [/td][td]5312 [/td][td]42.83 [/td][td]53.29 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]30 [/td][td]WU Tharanga (SL) [/td][td]2005-2017 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1365 [/td][td]29.04 [/td][td]53.19 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]31 [/td][td]HH Gibbs (SA) [/td][td]1998-2008 [/td][td]68 [/td][td]5242 [/td][td]47.22 [/td][td]52.28 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]32 [/td][td]G Gambhir (INDIA) [/td][td]2004-2016 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]4119 [/td][td]42.9 [/td][td]51.99 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]33 [/td][td]AN Petersen (SA) [/td][td]2010-2015 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2077 [/td][td]34.61 [/td][td]51.62 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]34 [/td][td]PV Simmons (WI) [/td][td]1988-1994 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]919 [/td][td]23.56 [/td][td]51.51 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]35 [/td][td]V Sibanda (ZIM) [/td][td]2003-2014 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]22.76 [/td][td]51.16 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]36 [/td][td]KD Karthik (INDIA) [/td][td]2007-2007 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]572 [/td][td]40.85 [/td][td]51.11 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]37 [/td][td]Ahmed Shehzad (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2017 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]982 [/td][td]40.91 [/td][td]50.98 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]38 [/td][td]Mohsin Khan (PAK) [/td][td]1979-1986 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2455 [/td][td]37.76 [/td][td]50.90* [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]39 [/td][td]SC Williams (WI) [/td][td]1994-2002 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1119 [/td][td]25.43 [/td][td]50.79 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]40 [/td][td]JM How (NZ) [/td][td]2006-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]771 [/td][td]23.36 [/td][td]50.75 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]41 [/td][td]A Turner (AUS) [/td][td]1975-1977 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]768 [/td][td]29.53 [/td][td]50.65 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]42 [/td][td]CJL Rogers (AUS) [/td][td]2008-2015 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]2015 [/td][td]42.87 [/td][td]50.6 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]43 [/td][td]MJ Greatbatch (NZ) [/td][td]1992-1995 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]637 [/td][td]30.33 [/td][td]50.59 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]44 [/td][td]KC Wessels (AUS/SA) [/td][td]1982-1993 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]1383 [/td][td]39.51 [/td][td]50.56 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]45 [/td][td]AB de Villiers (SA) [/td][td]2004-2008 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1265 [/td][td]36.14 [/td][td]50.47 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]46 [/td][td]GA Gooch (ENG) [/td][td]1978-1995 [/td][td]100 [/td][td]7811 [/td][td]43.88 [/td][td]49.96 [/td][td]18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]47 [/td][td]KOA Powell (WI) [/td][td]2011-2018 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]1575 [/td][td]26.25 [/td][td]49.84 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]48 [/td][td]KR Stackpole (AUS) [/td][td]1969-1974 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2390 [/td][td]40.5 [/td][td]49.48* [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]49 [/td][td]LG Rowe (WI) [/td][td]1974-1976 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]795 [/td][td]61.15 [/td][td]49.47* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]50 [/td][td]SM Katich (AUS) [/td][td]2008-2010 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2928 [/td][td]50.48 [/td][td]49.33 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]51 [/td][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2012-2020 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]4492 [/td][td]37.74 [/td][td]49.11 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]52 [/td][td]CG Greenidge (WI) [/td][td]1974-1991 [/td][td]107 [/td][td]7488 [/td][td]45.1 [/td][td]49.10* [/td][td]19 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]53 [/td][td]AJ Strauss (ENG) [/td][td]2004-2012 [/td][td]97 [/td][td]6741 [/td][td]40.85 [/td][td]49.03 [/td][td]20 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]54 [/td][td]AJ Stewart (ENG) [/td][td]1990-1999 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]3348 [/td][td]44.64 [/td][td]49.01 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]55 [/td][td]Imrul Kayes (BDESH) [/td][td]2008-2019 [/td][td]34 [/td][td]1568 [/td][td]24.5 [/td][td]48.62 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]56 [/td][td]Imran Farhat (PAK) [/td][td]2001-2013 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]2357 [/td][td]31.85 [/td][td]48.3 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]57 [/td][td]H Masakadza (ZIM) [/td][td]2001-2018 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]564 [/td][td]23.5 [/td][td]48.24 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]58 [/td][td]Taslim Arif (PAK) [/td][td]1980-1980 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]501 [/td][td]62.62 [/td][td]48.08 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]59 [/td][td]W Jaffer (INDIA) [/td][td]2000-2008 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1944 [/td][td]34.1 [/td][td]48.05 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]60 [/td][td]Ramiz Raja (PAK) [/td][td]1987-1997 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2103 [/td][td]32.85 [/td][td]48.03* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]61 [/td][td]Salman Butt (PAK) [/td][td]2003-2010 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1742 [/td][td]31.1 [/td][td]47.8 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]62 [/td][td]MJ Guptill (NZ) [/td][td]2009-2016 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]2062 [/td][td]27.49 [/td][td]47.77 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]63 [/td][td]AB Barath (WI) [/td][td]2009-2012 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]657 [/td][td]23.46 [/td][td]47.33 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]64 [/td][td]MG Vandort (SL) [/td][td]2002-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1026 [/td][td]36.64 [/td][td]47.19 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]65 [/td][td]WW Hinds (WI) [/td][td]2001-2005 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1482 [/td][td]32.21 [/td][td]47.12 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]66 [/td][td]RB Simpson (AUS) [/td][td]1960-1968 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]3664 [/td][td]55.51 [/td][td]47.10* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]67 [/td][td]Hannan Sarkar (BDESH) [/td][td]2002-2004 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]661 [/td][td]20.65 [/td][td]47.07 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]68 [/td][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]2006-2018 [/td][td]154 [/td][td]11845 [/td][td]44.86 [/td][td]46.93 [/td][td]31 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]69 [/td][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2014-2020 [/td][td]51 [/td][td]3697 [/td][td]42.98 [/td][td]46.72 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]70 [/td][td]Khurram Manzoor (PAK) [/td][td]2009-2014 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]740 [/td][td]27.4 [/td][td]46.71 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]71 [/td][td]RC Fredericks (WI) [/td][td]1968-1977 [/td][td]58 [/td][td]4329 [/td][td]42.86 [/td][td]46.56* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]72 [/td][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]485 [/td][td]25.52 [/td][td]46.54 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]73 [/td][td]S Ramesh (INDIA) [/td][td]1999-2001 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1367 [/td][td]37.97 [/td][td]46.52 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]74 [/td][td]M Vijay (INDIA) [/td][td]2008-2018 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]3880 [/td][td]39.19 [/td][td]46.42 [/td][td]12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]75 [/td][td]EJ Barlow (SA) [/td][td]1961-1970 [/td][td]28 [/td][td]2290 [/td][td]45.8 [/td][td]46.33* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]76 [/td][td]VVS Laxman (INDIA) [/td][td]1997-2006 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]685 [/td][td]28.54 [/td][td]46.31 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]77 [/td][td]WM Darling (AUS) [/td][td]1978-1979 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]576 [/td][td]26.18 [/td][td]46.21* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]78 [/td][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2014-2020 [/td][td]55 [/td][td]3662 [/td][td]39.8 [/td][td]45.84 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]79 [/td][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2020 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1061 [/td][td]30.31 [/td][td]45.63 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]80 [/td][td]IC Davis (AUS) [/td][td]1976-1977 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]549 [/td][td]32.29 [/td][td]45.4 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]81 [/td][td]DS Smith (WI) [/td][td]2003-2018 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]1550 [/td][td]23.13 [/td][td]45.18 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]82 [/td][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]979 [/td][td]33.75 [/td][td]45.17 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]83 [/td][td]SC Cook (SA) [/td][td]2016-2017 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]632 [/td][td]33.26 [/td][td]45.07 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]84 [/td][td]RP Arnold (SL) [/td][td]1997-2002 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]679 [/td][td]52.23 [/td][td]44.72 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]85 [/td][td]Taufeeq Umar (PAK) [/td][td]2001-2014 [/td][td]44 [/td][td]2963 [/td][td]37.98 [/td][td]44.71 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]86 [/td][td]DL Haynes (WI) [/td][td]1978-1994 [/td][td]116 [/td][td]7472 [/td][td]42.45 [/td][td]44.70* [/td][td]18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]87 [/td][td]MTG Elliott (AUS) [/td][td]1996-1999 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]989 [/td][td]35.32 [/td][td]44.67 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]88 [/td][td]MS Atapattu (SL) [/td][td]1997-2007 [/td][td]79 [/td][td]5317 [/td][td]43.22 [/td][td]44.62 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]89 [/td][td]AMJ Hilditch (AUS) [/td][td]1979-1985 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1073 [/td][td]31.55 [/td][td]44.46* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]90 [/td][td]MD Stoneman (ENG) [/td][td]2017-2018 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]526 [/td][td]27.68 [/td][td]44.27 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]91 [/td][td]NV Knight (ENG) [/td][td]1995-2000 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]451 [/td][td]25.05 [/td][td]44.17 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]92 [/td][td]AD Gaekwad (INDIA) [/td][td]1976-1985 [/td][td]30 [/td][td]1441 [/td][td]30.65 [/td][td]44.12* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]93 [/td][td]NS Sidhu (INDIA) [/td][td]1983-1999 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]2911 [/td][td]42.8 [/td][td]44.06* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]94 [/td][td]SM Gavaskar (INDIA) [/td][td]1971-1987 [/td][td]119 [/td][td]9607 [/td][td]50.29 [/td][td]43.97* [/td][td]33 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]95 [/td][td]AD Hales (ENG) [/td][td]2015-2016 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]573 [/td][td]27.28 [/td][td]43.84 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]96 [/td][td]CM Spearman (NZ) [/td][td]1995-2000 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]695 [/td][td]23.96 [/td][td]43.38 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]97 [/td][td]L Vincent (NZ) [/td][td]2001-2007 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]612 [/td][td]29.14 [/td][td]43.34 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]98 [/td][td]DC Boon (AUS) [/td][td]1985-1993 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2614 [/td][td]45.06 [/td][td]43.25 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]99 [/td][td]RT Robinson (ENG) [/td][td]1984-1988 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1349 [/td][td]44.96 [/td][td]43.12 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]100 [/td][td]Azhar Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2019 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1556 [/td][td]45.76 [/td][td]43.07 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]101 [/td][td]CT Bancroft (AUS) [/td][td]2017-2019 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]446 [/td][td]26.23 [/td][td]42.8 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]102 [/td][td]DL Amiss (ENG) [/td][td]1972-1977 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]3276 [/td][td]53.7 [/td][td]42.69* [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]103 [/td][td]J Arun Lal (INDIA) [/td][td]1982-1989 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]729 [/td][td]26.03 [/td][td]42.62* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]104 [/td][td]RS Mahanama (SL) [/td][td]1986-1997 [/td][td]41 [/td][td]2069 [/td][td]29.14 [/td][td]42.61* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]105 [/td][td]JA Raval (NZ) [/td][td]2016-2019 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1100 [/td][td]30.55 [/td][td]42.38 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]106 [/td][td]KK Jennings (ENG) [/td][td]2016-2019 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]755 [/td][td]25.16 [/td][td]42.32 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]107 [/td][td]MT Renshaw (AUS) [/td][td]2016-2018 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]605 [/td][td]33.61 [/td][td]41.81 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]108 [/td][td]Sadiq Mohammad (PAK) [/td][td]1969-1981 [/td][td]41 [/td][td]2480 [/td][td]34.92 [/td][td]41.76* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]109 [/td][td]G Kirsten (SA) [/td][td]1993-2002 [/td][td]84 [/td][td]5726 [/td][td]41.79 [/td][td]41.61 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]110 [/td][td]A Jadeja (INDIA) [/td][td]1992-1999 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]528 [/td][td]29.33 [/td][td]41.6 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]111 [/td][td]MA Taylor (AUS) [/td][td]1989-1999 [/td][td]104 [/td][td]7525 [/td][td]43.49 [/td][td]41.48 [/td][td]19 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]112 [/td][td]DD Ebrahim (ZIM) [/td][td]2001-2005 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]813 [/td][td]23.22 [/td][td]41.47 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]113 [/td][td]ND McKenzie (SA) [/td][td]2000-2009 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1279 [/td][td]39.96 [/td][td]41.44 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]114 [/td][td]NT Paranavitana (SL) [/td][td]2009-2012 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1743 [/td][td]32.27 [/td][td]41.34 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]115 [/td][td]EJM Cowan (AUS) [/td][td]2011-2013 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]963 [/td][td]33.2 [/td][td]41.2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]116 [/td][td]JE Root (ENG) [/td][td]2013-2016 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]417 [/td][td]41.7 [/td][td]41.2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]117 [/td][td]D Lloyd (ENG) [/td][td]1974-1975 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]552 [/td][td]42.46 [/td][td]41.13 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]118 [/td][td]WB Phillips (AUS) [/td][td]1983-1985 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]566 [/td][td]31.44 [/td][td]41.1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]119 [/td][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2011-2019 [/td][td]59 [/td][td]3475 [/td][td]33.41 [/td][td]40.92 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]120 [/td][td]Mudassar Nazar (PAK) [/td][td]1976-1989 [/td][td]70 [/td][td]3787 [/td][td]36.76 [/td][td]40.80* [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]121 [/td][td]MJ Horne (NZ) [/td][td]1997-2003 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1525 [/td][td]29.32 [/td][td]40.77 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]122 [/td][td]S Wettimuny (SL) [/td][td]1982-1987 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1221 [/td][td]29.07 [/td][td]40.74* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]123 [/td][td]GP Howarth (NZ) [/td][td]1976-1985 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]535 [/td][td]24.31 [/td][td]40.74* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]124 [/td][td]RB McCosker (AUS) [/td][td]1975-1980 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1036 [/td][td]35.72 [/td][td]40.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]125 [/td][td]GM Wood (AUS) [/td][td]1978-1985 [/td][td]51 [/td][td]2958 [/td][td]33.61 [/td][td]40.53* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]126 [/td][td]SL Campbell (WI) [/td][td]1995-2001 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]2856 [/td][td]32.82 [/td][td]40.51 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]127 [/td][td]JK Silva (SL) [/td][td]2013-2018 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]1900 [/td][td]28.35 [/td][td]40.31 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]128 [/td][td]R Dravid (INDIA) [/td][td]1996-2011 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]807 [/td][td]42.47 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]129 [/td][td]MA Butcher (ENG) [/td][td]1997-2003 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1418 [/td][td]29.54 [/td][td]39.76 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]130 [/td][td]Nafees Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2004-2006 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]512 [/td][td]25.6 [/td][td]39.62 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]131 [/td][td]AC Hudson (SA) [/td][td]1992-1997 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1855 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]39.46 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]132 [/td][td]WM Lawry (AUS) [/td][td]1961-1971 [/td][td]67 [/td][td]5234 [/td][td]47.15 [/td][td]39.18* [/td][td]13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]133 [/td][td]Sami Aslam (PAK) [/td][td]2015-2017 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]758 [/td][td]31.58 [/td][td]39.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]134 [/td][td]AM Bacher (SA) [/td][td]1997-1999 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]692 [/td][td]26.61 [/td][td]39.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]135 [/td][td]BA Young (NZ) [/td][td]1993-1999 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]2024 [/td][td]32.12 [/td][td]38.96 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]136 [/td][td]SS Das (INDIA) [/td][td]2000-2002 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1326 [/td][td]34.89 [/td][td]38.91 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]137 [/td][td]CC Hunte (WI) [/td][td]1960-1967 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2386 [/td][td]44.18 [/td][td]38.74* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]138 [/td][td]IR Redpath (AUS) [/td][td]1964-1976 [/td][td]32 [/td][td]2492 [/td][td]44.5 [/td][td]38.69* [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]139 [/td][td]MD Bell (NZ) [/td][td]1998-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]723 [/td][td]24.93 [/td][td]38.35 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]140 [/td][td]PG Fulton (NZ) [/td][td]2006-2014 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]718 [/td][td]26.59 [/td][td]38.29 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]141 [/td][td]G Fowler (ENG) [/td][td]1982-1985 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1192 [/td][td]34.05 [/td][td]38.25 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]142 [/td][td]Javed Omar (BDESH) [/td][td]2001-2007 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]1678 [/td][td]22.07 [/td][td]38.09 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]143 [/td][td]BC Broad (ENG) [/td][td]1984-1989 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]1661 [/td][td]39.54 [/td][td]37.86 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]144 [/td][td]MH Richardson (NZ) [/td][td]2000-2004 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]2770 [/td][td]44.67 [/td][td]37.81 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]145 [/td][td]JH Edrich (ENG) [/td][td]1963-1976 [/td][td]47 [/td][td]3430 [/td][td]44.54 [/td][td]37.76* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]146 [/td][td]MA Atherton (ENG) [/td][td]1990-2001 [/td][td]108 [/td][td]7476 [/td][td]39.14 [/td][td]37.63 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]147 [/td][td]D Ganga (WI) [/td][td]1999-2008 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]1587 [/td][td]24.79 [/td][td]37.5 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]148 [/td][td]TMK Mawoyo (ZIM) [/td][td]2011-2016 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]615 [/td][td]30.75 [/td][td]37.09 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]149 [/td][td]Shoaib Mohammad (PAK) [/td][td]1983-1995 [/td][td]27 [/td][td]1423 [/td][td]40.65 [/td][td]37.06* [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]150 [/td][td]CPS Chauhan (INDIA) [/td][td]1969-1981 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]2069 [/td][td]31.83 [/td][td]37.05* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]151 [/td][td]GT Dowling (NZ) [/td][td]1961-1972 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2177 [/td][td]31.55 [/td][td]36.92* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]152 [/td][td]BW Luckhurst (ENG) [/td][td]1970-1974 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1231 [/td][td]43.96 [/td][td]36.77 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]153 [/td][td]TG McIntosh (NZ) [/td][td]2008-2011 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]854 [/td][td]28.46 [/td][td]36.32 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]154 [/td][td]TL Goddard (SA) [/td][td]1960-1970 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1662 [/td][td]37.77 [/td][td]36.20* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]155 [/td][td]BM Laird (AUS) [/td][td]1979-1982 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]1341 [/td][td]35.28 [/td][td]36.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]156 [/td][td]UC Hathurusingha (SL) [/td][td]1991-1996 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]1260 [/td][td]30.73 [/td][td]35.71 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]157 [/td][td]RJ Shastri (INDIA) [/td][td]1982-1992 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1101 [/td][td]44.04 [/td][td]35.64* [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]158 [/td][td]G Boycott (ENG) [/td][td]1964-1982 [/td][td]107 [/td][td]8091 [/td][td]48.16 [/td][td]35.53* [/td][td]22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]159 [/td][td]JG Wright (NZ) [/td][td]1978-1993 [/td][td]80 [/td][td]5260 [/td][td]38.11 [/td][td]35.34* [/td][td]12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]160 [/td][td]GR Marsh (AUS) [/td][td]1985-1992 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]2819 [/td][td]33.55 [/td][td]35.34 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]161 [/td][td]NRD Compton (ENG) [/td][td]2012-2016 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]498 [/td][td]31.12 [/td][td]35.16 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]162 [/td][td]NR Mongia (INDIA) [/td][td]1994-1998 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]655 [/td][td]27.29 [/td][td]35.15 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]163 [/td][td]GM Turner (NZ) [/td][td]1969-1983 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]2828 [/td][td]45.61 [/td][td]34.99* [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]164 [/td][td]M Prabhakar (INDIA) [/td][td]1984-1995 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]958 [/td][td]35.48 [/td][td]34.90* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]165 [/td][td]TR Gripper (ZIM) [/td][td]1999-2004 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]761 [/td][td]22.38 [/td][td]34.9 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]166 [/td][td]CD Cumming (NZ) [/td][td]2005-2008 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]441 [/td][td]25.94 [/td][td]34.86 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]167 [/td][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2011-2019 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]509 [/td][td]20.36 [/td][td]34.81 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]168 [/td][td]A Chopra (INDIA) [/td][td]2003-2004 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]437 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]34.6 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]169 [/td][td]GW Flower (ZIM) [/td][td]1992-2000 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]2373 [/td][td]29.29 [/td][td]33.82 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]170 [/td][td]J Dyson (AUS) [/td][td]1977-1984 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]1050 [/td][td]26.25 [/td][td]33.72 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]171 [/td][td]GJ Rennie (ZIM) [/td][td]1997-2000 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]777 [/td][td]24.28 [/td][td]33.65 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]172 [/td][td]SV Carlisle (ZIM) [/td][td]1995-2002 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]362 [/td][td]25.85 [/td][td]33.64 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]173 [/td][td]MD Moxon (ENG) [/td][td]1986-1989 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]397 [/td][td]30.53 [/td][td]33.08 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]174 [/td][td]GS Blewett (AUS) [/td][td]1999-2000 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]588 [/td][td]29.4 [/td][td]32.92 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]175 [/td][td]BA Edgar (NZ) [/td][td]1978-1986 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]1898 [/td][td]30.61 [/td][td]32.09* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]176 [/td][td]B Wood (ENG) [/td][td]1972-1978 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]454 [/td][td]21.61 [/td][td]31.89* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]177 [/td][td]MH Dekker (ZIM) [/td][td]1993-1996 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]333 [/td][td]15.85 [/td][td]31.53 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]178 [/td][td]AFG Griffith (WI) [/td][td]1997-2000 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]638 [/td][td]24.53 [/td][td]30.97 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]179 [/td][td]AP Gurusinha (SL) [/td][td]1994-1995 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]433 [/td][td]48.11 [/td][td]30.17 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]180 [/td][td]D Dasgupta (INDIA) [/td][td]2001-2002 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]306 [/td][td]30.6 [/td][td]29.88 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]181 [/td][td]BA Pocock (NZ) [/td][td]1993-1997 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]665 [/td][td]22.93 [/td][td]29.8 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]182 [/td][td]JM Brearley (ENG) [/td][td]1976-1981 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]921 [/td][td]23.02 [/td][td]29.67 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]183 [/td][td]CJ Tavare (ENG) [/td][td]1982-1984 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]966 [/td][td]31.16 [/td][td]29.57 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]184 [/td][td]DJ Murray (NZ) [/td][td]1994-1995 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]303 [/td][td]20.2 [/td][td]29.5 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]185 [/td][td]CL Smith (ENG) [/td][td]1983-1984 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]358 [/td][td]32.54 [/td][td]29.17 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]186 [/td][td]JM Parker (NZ) [/td][td]1973-1974 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]313 [/td][td]19.56 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]187 [/td][td]SB Bangar (INDIA) [/td][td]2002-2002 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]327 [/td][td]25.15 [/td][td]28.73 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]188 [/td][td]TJ Franklin (NZ) [/td][td]1983-1991 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]828 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]26.44 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

Note * indicates incomplete data.
PS - I am suprised the legendary Chris Tavare is not at bottom of the list.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

There is some merit to Wasim's claim. Afridi's SR was nearly 75 when he played as opener. However Afridi played only 15 tests as opener. I think honor should go to Sehwag , he took it too next level with high average to match.

Test openers sorted with Strike Rate (min 1000 ball faced).
[table=width: 600, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Pos [/td][td]Player [/td][td]Span [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]Ave [/td][td]SR [/td][td]100 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]1 [/td][td]V Sehwag (ICC/INDIA) [/td][td]2002-2013 [/td][td]99 [/td][td]8207 [/td][td]50.04 [/td][td]83.1 [/td][td]22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]2 [/td][td]Shahid Afridi (PAK) [/td][td]1998-2005 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]892 [/td][td]37.16 [/td][td]74.58 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]3 [/td][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]2011-2020 [/td][td]84 [/td][td]7205 [/td][td]49.68 [/td][td]73.16 [/td][td]24 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]4 [/td][td]TM Dilshan (SL) [/td][td]2009-2013 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]2170 [/td][td]42.54 [/td][td]71.35 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]5 [/td][td]S Dhawan (INDIA) [/td][td]2013-2018 [/td][td]34 [/td][td]2315 [/td][td]40.61 [/td][td]66.94 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]6 [/td][td]ST Jayasuriya (SL) [/td][td]1994-2007 [/td][td]90 [/td][td]5932 [/td][td]41.48 [/td][td]65.84* [/td][td]13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]7 [/td][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]2017-2019 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1424 [/td][td]38.48 [/td][td]63.57 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]8 [/td][td]K Srikkanth (INDIA) [/td][td]1981-1992 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2062 [/td][td]29.88 [/td][td]62.87* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]9 [/td][td]CH Gayle (WI) [/td][td]2000-2014 [/td][td]99 [/td][td]7028 [/td][td]43.11 [/td][td]60.71 [/td][td]15 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]10 [/td][td]BB McCullum (NZ) [/td][td]2004-2014 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1316 [/td][td]39.87 [/td][td]60.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]11 [/td][td]ML Hayden (AUS) [/td][td]1994-2009 [/td][td]103 [/td][td]8625 [/td][td]50.73 [/td][td]60.1 [/td][td]30 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]12 [/td][td]GC Smith (ICC/SA) [/td][td]2002-2014 [/td][td]114 [/td][td]9030 [/td][td]49.07 [/td][td]59.85 [/td][td]27 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]13 [/td][td]SM Warnapura (SL) [/td][td]2007-2009 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]821 [/td][td]35.69 [/td][td]58.14 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]14 [/td][td]JL Langer (AUS) [/td][td]1993-2007 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]5112 [/td][td]48.22 [/td][td]57.91 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]15 [/td][td]HD Rutherford (NZ) [/td][td]2013-2015 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]742 [/td][td]27.48 [/td][td]56.9 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]16 [/td][td]Tamim Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2008-2020 [/td][td]60 [/td][td]4366 [/td][td]38.63 [/td][td]56.47 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]17 [/td][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]2015-2019 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]1915 [/td][td]36.82 [/td][td]56.22 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]18 [/td][td]Mohammad Hafeez (PAK) [/td][td]2003-2018 [/td][td]53 [/td][td]3539 [/td][td]37.64 [/td][td]56.14 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]19 [/td][td]Aamer Sohail (PAK) [/td][td]1992-2000 [/td][td]46 [/td][td]2630 [/td][td]36.02 [/td][td]55.99 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]20 [/td][td]MA Agarwal (INDIA) [/td][td]2018-2020 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]974 [/td][td]57.29 [/td][td]55.97 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]21 [/td][td]Saeed Anwar (PAK) [/td][td]1990-2001 [/td][td]54 [/td][td]3957 [/td][td]47.1 [/td][td]55.96 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]22 [/td][td]PJ Hughes (AUS) [/td][td]2009-2011 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1072 [/td][td]34.58 [/td][td]55.57 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]23 [/td][td]JA Burns (AUS) [/td][td]2015-2020 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1233 [/td][td]38.53 [/td][td]55.14 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]24 [/td][td]ME Trescothick (ENG) [/td][td]2000-2006 [/td][td]76 [/td][td]5824 [/td][td]43.78 [/td][td]54.51 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]25 [/td][td]PA Jaques (AUS) [/td][td]2005-2008 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]902 [/td][td]47.47 [/td][td]54.23 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]26 [/td][td]MP Vaughan (ENG) [/td][td]2002-2008 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]3093 [/td][td]45.48 [/td][td]54.13 [/td][td]10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]27 [/td][td]Majid Khan (PAK) [/td][td]1973-1979 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1985 [/td][td]42.23 [/td][td]53.59* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]28 [/td][td]SR Watson (AUS) [/td][td]2009-2013 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]2049 [/td][td]40.98 [/td][td]53.41 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]29 [/td][td]MJ Slater (AUS) [/td][td]1993-2001 [/td][td]74 [/td][td]5312 [/td][td]42.83 [/td][td]53.29 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]30 [/td][td]WU Tharanga (SL) [/td][td]2005-2017 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1365 [/td][td]29.04 [/td][td]53.19 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]31 [/td][td]HH Gibbs (SA) [/td][td]1998-2008 [/td][td]68 [/td][td]5242 [/td][td]47.22 [/td][td]52.28 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]32 [/td][td]G Gambhir (INDIA) [/td][td]2004-2016 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]4119 [/td][td]42.9 [/td][td]51.99 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]33 [/td][td]AN Petersen (SA) [/td][td]2010-2015 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2077 [/td][td]34.61 [/td][td]51.62 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]34 [/td][td]PV Simmons (WI) [/td][td]1988-1994 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]919 [/td][td]23.56 [/td][td]51.51 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]35 [/td][td]V Sibanda (ZIM) [/td][td]2003-2014 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]569 [/td][td]22.76 [/td][td]51.16 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]36 [/td][td]KD Karthik (INDIA) [/td][td]2007-2007 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]572 [/td][td]40.85 [/td][td]51.11 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]37 [/td][td]Ahmed Shehzad (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2017 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]982 [/td][td]40.91 [/td][td]50.98 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]38 [/td][td]Mohsin Khan (PAK) [/td][td]1979-1986 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2455 [/td][td]37.76 [/td][td]50.90* [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]39 [/td][td]SC Williams (WI) [/td][td]1994-2002 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1119 [/td][td]25.43 [/td][td]50.79 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]40 [/td][td]JM How (NZ) [/td][td]2006-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]771 [/td][td]23.36 [/td][td]50.75 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]41 [/td][td]A Turner (AUS) [/td][td]1975-1977 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]768 [/td][td]29.53 [/td][td]50.65 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]42 [/td][td]CJL Rogers (AUS) [/td][td]2008-2015 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]2015 [/td][td]42.87 [/td][td]50.6 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]43 [/td][td]MJ Greatbatch (NZ) [/td][td]1992-1995 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]637 [/td][td]30.33 [/td][td]50.59 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]44 [/td][td]KC Wessels (AUS/SA) [/td][td]1982-1993 [/td][td]22 [/td][td]1383 [/td][td]39.51 [/td][td]50.56 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]45 [/td][td]AB de Villiers (SA) [/td][td]2004-2008 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1265 [/td][td]36.14 [/td][td]50.47 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]46 [/td][td]GA Gooch (ENG) [/td][td]1978-1995 [/td][td]100 [/td][td]7811 [/td][td]43.88 [/td][td]49.96 [/td][td]18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]47 [/td][td]KOA Powell (WI) [/td][td]2011-2018 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]1575 [/td][td]26.25 [/td][td]49.84 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]48 [/td][td]KR Stackpole (AUS) [/td][td]1969-1974 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2390 [/td][td]40.5 [/td][td]49.48* [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]49 [/td][td]LG Rowe (WI) [/td][td]1974-1976 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]795 [/td][td]61.15 [/td][td]49.47* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]50 [/td][td]SM Katich (AUS) [/td][td]2008-2010 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2928 [/td][td]50.48 [/td][td]49.33 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]51 [/td][td]FDM Karunaratne (SL) [/td][td]2012-2020 [/td][td]65 [/td][td]4492 [/td][td]37.74 [/td][td]49.11 [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]52 [/td][td]CG Greenidge (WI) [/td][td]1974-1991 [/td][td]107 [/td][td]7488 [/td][td]45.1 [/td][td]49.10* [/td][td]19 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]53 [/td][td]AJ Strauss (ENG) [/td][td]2004-2012 [/td][td]97 [/td][td]6741 [/td][td]40.85 [/td][td]49.03 [/td][td]20 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]54 [/td][td]AJ Stewart (ENG) [/td][td]1990-1999 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]3348 [/td][td]44.64 [/td][td]49.01 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]55 [/td][td]Imrul Kayes (BDESH) [/td][td]2008-2019 [/td][td]34 [/td][td]1568 [/td][td]24.5 [/td][td]48.62 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]56 [/td][td]Imran Farhat (PAK) [/td][td]2001-2013 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]2357 [/td][td]31.85 [/td][td]48.3 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]57 [/td][td]H Masakadza (ZIM) [/td][td]2001-2018 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]564 [/td][td]23.5 [/td][td]48.24 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]58 [/td][td]Taslim Arif (PAK) [/td][td]1980-1980 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]501 [/td][td]62.62 [/td][td]48.08 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]59 [/td][td]W Jaffer (INDIA) [/td][td]2000-2008 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1944 [/td][td]34.1 [/td][td]48.05 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]60 [/td][td]Ramiz Raja (PAK) [/td][td]1987-1997 [/td][td]43 [/td][td]2103 [/td][td]32.85 [/td][td]48.03* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]61 [/td][td]Salman Butt (PAK) [/td][td]2003-2010 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1742 [/td][td]31.1 [/td][td]47.8 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]62 [/td][td]MJ Guptill (NZ) [/td][td]2009-2016 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]2062 [/td][td]27.49 [/td][td]47.77 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]63 [/td][td]AB Barath (WI) [/td][td]2009-2012 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]657 [/td][td]23.46 [/td][td]47.33 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]64 [/td][td]MG Vandort (SL) [/td][td]2002-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1026 [/td][td]36.64 [/td][td]47.19 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]65 [/td][td]WW Hinds (WI) [/td][td]2001-2005 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1482 [/td][td]32.21 [/td][td]47.12 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]66 [/td][td]RB Simpson (AUS) [/td][td]1960-1968 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]3664 [/td][td]55.51 [/td][td]47.10* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]67 [/td][td]Hannan Sarkar (BDESH) [/td][td]2002-2004 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]661 [/td][td]20.65 [/td][td]47.07 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]68 [/td][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]2006-2018 [/td][td]154 [/td][td]11845 [/td][td]44.86 [/td][td]46.93 [/td][td]31 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]69 [/td][td]TWM Latham (NZ) [/td][td]2014-2020 [/td][td]51 [/td][td]3697 [/td][td]42.98 [/td][td]46.72 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]70 [/td][td]Khurram Manzoor (PAK) [/td][td]2009-2014 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]740 [/td][td]27.4 [/td][td]46.71 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]71 [/td][td]RC Fredericks (WI) [/td][td]1968-1977 [/td][td]58 [/td][td]4329 [/td][td]42.86 [/td][td]46.56* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]72 [/td][td]Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]485 [/td][td]25.52 [/td][td]46.54 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]73 [/td][td]S Ramesh (INDIA) [/td][td]1999-2001 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1367 [/td][td]37.97 [/td][td]46.52 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]74 [/td][td]M Vijay (INDIA) [/td][td]2008-2018 [/td][td]57 [/td][td]3880 [/td][td]39.19 [/td][td]46.42 [/td][td]12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]75 [/td][td]EJ Barlow (SA) [/td][td]1961-1970 [/td][td]28 [/td][td]2290 [/td][td]45.8 [/td][td]46.33* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]76 [/td][td]VVS Laxman (INDIA) [/td][td]1997-2006 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]685 [/td][td]28.54 [/td][td]46.31 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]77 [/td][td]WM Darling (AUS) [/td][td]1978-1979 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]576 [/td][td]26.18 [/td][td]46.21* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]78 [/td][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]2014-2020 [/td][td]55 [/td][td]3662 [/td][td]39.8 [/td][td]45.84 [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]79 [/td][td]Shan Masood (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2020 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1061 [/td][td]30.31 [/td][td]45.63 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]80 [/td][td]IC Davis (AUS) [/td][td]1976-1977 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]549 [/td][td]32.29 [/td][td]45.4 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]81 [/td][td]DS Smith (WI) [/td][td]2003-2018 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]1550 [/td][td]23.13 [/td][td]45.18 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]82 [/td][td]RJ Burns (ENG) [/td][td]2018-2019 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]979 [/td][td]33.75 [/td][td]45.17 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]83 [/td][td]SC Cook (SA) [/td][td]2016-2017 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]632 [/td][td]33.26 [/td][td]45.07 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]84 [/td][td]RP Arnold (SL) [/td][td]1997-2002 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]679 [/td][td]52.23 [/td][td]44.72 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]85 [/td][td]Taufeeq Umar (PAK) [/td][td]2001-2014 [/td][td]44 [/td][td]2963 [/td][td]37.98 [/td][td]44.71 [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]86 [/td][td]DL Haynes (WI) [/td][td]1978-1994 [/td][td]116 [/td][td]7472 [/td][td]42.45 [/td][td]44.70* [/td][td]18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]87 [/td][td]MTG Elliott (AUS) [/td][td]1996-1999 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]989 [/td][td]35.32 [/td][td]44.67 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]88 [/td][td]MS Atapattu (SL) [/td][td]1997-2007 [/td][td]79 [/td][td]5317 [/td][td]43.22 [/td][td]44.62 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]89 [/td][td]AMJ Hilditch (AUS) [/td][td]1979-1985 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1073 [/td][td]31.55 [/td][td]44.46* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]90 [/td][td]MD Stoneman (ENG) [/td][td]2017-2018 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]526 [/td][td]27.68 [/td][td]44.27 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]91 [/td][td]NV Knight (ENG) [/td][td]1995-2000 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]451 [/td][td]25.05 [/td][td]44.17 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]92 [/td][td]AD Gaekwad (INDIA) [/td][td]1976-1985 [/td][td]30 [/td][td]1441 [/td][td]30.65 [/td][td]44.12* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]93 [/td][td]NS Sidhu (INDIA) [/td][td]1983-1999 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]2911 [/td][td]42.8 [/td][td]44.06* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]94 [/td][td]SM Gavaskar (INDIA) [/td][td]1971-1987 [/td][td]119 [/td][td]9607 [/td][td]50.29 [/td][td]43.97* [/td][td]33 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]95 [/td][td]AD Hales (ENG) [/td][td]2015-2016 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]573 [/td][td]27.28 [/td][td]43.84 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]96 [/td][td]CM Spearman (NZ) [/td][td]1995-2000 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]695 [/td][td]23.96 [/td][td]43.38 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]97 [/td][td]L Vincent (NZ) [/td][td]2001-2007 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]612 [/td][td]29.14 [/td][td]43.34 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]98 [/td][td]DC Boon (AUS) [/td][td]1985-1993 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2614 [/td][td]45.06 [/td][td]43.25 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]99 [/td][td]RT Robinson (ENG) [/td][td]1984-1988 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1349 [/td][td]44.96 [/td][td]43.12 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]100 [/td][td]Azhar Ali (PAK) [/td][td]2013-2019 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1556 [/td][td]45.76 [/td][td]43.07 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]101 [/td][td]CT Bancroft (AUS) [/td][td]2017-2019 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]446 [/td][td]26.23 [/td][td]42.8 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]102 [/td][td]DL Amiss (ENG) [/td][td]1972-1977 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]3276 [/td][td]53.7 [/td][td]42.69* [/td][td]11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]103 [/td][td]J Arun Lal (INDIA) [/td][td]1982-1989 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]729 [/td][td]26.03 [/td][td]42.62* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]104 [/td][td]RS Mahanama (SL) [/td][td]1986-1997 [/td][td]41 [/td][td]2069 [/td][td]29.14 [/td][td]42.61* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]105 [/td][td]JA Raval (NZ) [/td][td]2016-2019 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1100 [/td][td]30.55 [/td][td]42.38 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]106 [/td][td]KK Jennings (ENG) [/td][td]2016-2019 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]755 [/td][td]25.16 [/td][td]42.32 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]107 [/td][td]MT Renshaw (AUS) [/td][td]2016-2018 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]605 [/td][td]33.61 [/td][td]41.81 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]108 [/td][td]Sadiq Mohammad (PAK) [/td][td]1969-1981 [/td][td]41 [/td][td]2480 [/td][td]34.92 [/td][td]41.76* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]109 [/td][td]G Kirsten (SA) [/td][td]1993-2002 [/td][td]84 [/td][td]5726 [/td][td]41.79 [/td][td]41.61 [/td][td]14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]110 [/td][td]A Jadeja (INDIA) [/td][td]1992-1999 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]528 [/td][td]29.33 [/td][td]41.6 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]111 [/td][td]MA Taylor (AUS) [/td][td]1989-1999 [/td][td]104 [/td][td]7525 [/td][td]43.49 [/td][td]41.48 [/td][td]19 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]112 [/td][td]DD Ebrahim (ZIM) [/td][td]2001-2005 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]813 [/td][td]23.22 [/td][td]41.47 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]113 [/td][td]ND McKenzie (SA) [/td][td]2000-2009 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1279 [/td][td]39.96 [/td][td]41.44 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]114 [/td][td]NT Paranavitana (SL) [/td][td]2009-2012 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1743 [/td][td]32.27 [/td][td]41.34 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]115 [/td][td]EJM Cowan (AUS) [/td][td]2011-2013 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]963 [/td][td]33.2 [/td][td]41.2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]116 [/td][td]JE Root (ENG) [/td][td]2013-2016 [/td][td]6 [/td][td]417 [/td][td]41.7 [/td][td]41.2 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]117 [/td][td]D Lloyd (ENG) [/td][td]1974-1975 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]552 [/td][td]42.46 [/td][td]41.13 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]118 [/td][td]WB Phillips (AUS) [/td][td]1983-1985 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]566 [/td][td]31.44 [/td][td]41.1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]119 [/td][td]KC Brathwaite (WI) [/td][td]2011-2019 [/td][td]59 [/td][td]3475 [/td][td]33.41 [/td][td]40.92 [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]120 [/td][td]Mudassar Nazar (PAK) [/td][td]1976-1989 [/td][td]70 [/td][td]3787 [/td][td]36.76 [/td][td]40.80* [/td][td]9 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]121 [/td][td]MJ Horne (NZ) [/td][td]1997-2003 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1525 [/td][td]29.32 [/td][td]40.77 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]122 [/td][td]S Wettimuny (SL) [/td][td]1982-1987 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1221 [/td][td]29.07 [/td][td]40.74* [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]123 [/td][td]GP Howarth (NZ) [/td][td]1976-1985 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]535 [/td][td]24.31 [/td][td]40.74* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]124 [/td][td]RB McCosker (AUS) [/td][td]1975-1980 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]1036 [/td][td]35.72 [/td][td]40.7 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]125 [/td][td]GM Wood (AUS) [/td][td]1978-1985 [/td][td]51 [/td][td]2958 [/td][td]33.61 [/td][td]40.53* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]126 [/td][td]SL Campbell (WI) [/td][td]1995-2001 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]2856 [/td][td]32.82 [/td][td]40.51 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]127 [/td][td]JK Silva (SL) [/td][td]2013-2018 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]1900 [/td][td]28.35 [/td][td]40.31 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]128 [/td][td]R Dravid (INDIA) [/td][td]1996-2011 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]807 [/td][td]42.47 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]129 [/td][td]MA Butcher (ENG) [/td][td]1997-2003 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1418 [/td][td]29.54 [/td][td]39.76 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]130 [/td][td]Nafees Iqbal (BDESH) [/td][td]2004-2006 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]512 [/td][td]25.6 [/td][td]39.62 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]131 [/td][td]AC Hudson (SA) [/td][td]1992-1997 [/td][td]31 [/td][td]1855 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]39.46 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]132 [/td][td]WM Lawry (AUS) [/td][td]1961-1971 [/td][td]67 [/td][td]5234 [/td][td]47.15 [/td][td]39.18* [/td][td]13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]133 [/td][td]Sami Aslam (PAK) [/td][td]2015-2017 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]758 [/td][td]31.58 [/td][td]39.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]134 [/td][td]AM Bacher (SA) [/td][td]1997-1999 [/td][td]16 [/td][td]692 [/td][td]26.61 [/td][td]39.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]135 [/td][td]BA Young (NZ) [/td][td]1993-1999 [/td][td]35 [/td][td]2024 [/td][td]32.12 [/td][td]38.96 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]136 [/td][td]SS Das (INDIA) [/td][td]2000-2002 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]1326 [/td][td]34.89 [/td][td]38.91 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]137 [/td][td]CC Hunte (WI) [/td][td]1960-1967 [/td][td]33 [/td][td]2386 [/td][td]44.18 [/td][td]38.74* [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]138 [/td][td]IR Redpath (AUS) [/td][td]1964-1976 [/td][td]32 [/td][td]2492 [/td][td]44.5 [/td][td]38.69* [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]139 [/td][td]MD Bell (NZ) [/td][td]1998-2008 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]723 [/td][td]24.93 [/td][td]38.35 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]140 [/td][td]PG Fulton (NZ) [/td][td]2006-2014 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]718 [/td][td]26.59 [/td][td]38.29 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]141 [/td][td]G Fowler (ENG) [/td][td]1982-1985 [/td][td]20 [/td][td]1192 [/td][td]34.05 [/td][td]38.25 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]142 [/td][td]Javed Omar (BDESH) [/td][td]2001-2007 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]1678 [/td][td]22.07 [/td][td]38.09 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]143 [/td][td]BC Broad (ENG) [/td][td]1984-1989 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]1661 [/td][td]39.54 [/td][td]37.86 [/td][td]6 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]144 [/td][td]MH Richardson (NZ) [/td][td]2000-2004 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]2770 [/td][td]44.67 [/td][td]37.81 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]145 [/td][td]JH Edrich (ENG) [/td][td]1963-1976 [/td][td]47 [/td][td]3430 [/td][td]44.54 [/td][td]37.76* [/td][td]8 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]146 [/td][td]MA Atherton (ENG) [/td][td]1990-2001 [/td][td]108 [/td][td]7476 [/td][td]39.14 [/td][td]37.63 [/td][td]16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]147 [/td][td]D Ganga (WI) [/td][td]1999-2008 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]1587 [/td][td]24.79 [/td][td]37.5 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]148 [/td][td]TMK Mawoyo (ZIM) [/td][td]2011-2016 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]615 [/td][td]30.75 [/td][td]37.09 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]149 [/td][td]Shoaib Mohammad (PAK) [/td][td]1983-1995 [/td][td]27 [/td][td]1423 [/td][td]40.65 [/td][td]37.06* [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]150 [/td][td]CPS Chauhan (INDIA) [/td][td]1969-1981 [/td][td]39 [/td][td]2069 [/td][td]31.83 [/td][td]37.05* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]151 [/td][td]GT Dowling (NZ) [/td][td]1961-1972 [/td][td]36 [/td][td]2177 [/td][td]31.55 [/td][td]36.92* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]152 [/td][td]BW Luckhurst (ENG) [/td][td]1970-1974 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]1231 [/td][td]43.96 [/td][td]36.77 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]153 [/td][td]TG McIntosh (NZ) [/td][td]2008-2011 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]854 [/td][td]28.46 [/td][td]36.32 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]154 [/td][td]TL Goddard (SA) [/td][td]1960-1970 [/td][td]26 [/td][td]1662 [/td][td]37.77 [/td][td]36.20* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]155 [/td][td]BM Laird (AUS) [/td][td]1979-1982 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]1341 [/td][td]35.28 [/td][td]36.11 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]156 [/td][td]UC Hathurusingha (SL) [/td][td]1991-1996 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]1260 [/td][td]30.73 [/td][td]35.71 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]157 [/td][td]RJ Shastri (INDIA) [/td][td]1982-1992 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]1101 [/td][td]44.04 [/td][td]35.64* [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]158 [/td][td]G Boycott (ENG) [/td][td]1964-1982 [/td][td]107 [/td][td]8091 [/td][td]48.16 [/td][td]35.53* [/td][td]22 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]159 [/td][td]JG Wright (NZ) [/td][td]1978-1993 [/td][td]80 [/td][td]5260 [/td][td]38.11 [/td][td]35.34* [/td][td]12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]160 [/td][td]GR Marsh (AUS) [/td][td]1985-1992 [/td][td]50 [/td][td]2819 [/td][td]33.55 [/td][td]35.34 [/td][td]4 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]161 [/td][td]NRD Compton (ENG) [/td][td]2012-2016 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]498 [/td][td]31.12 [/td][td]35.16 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]162 [/td][td]NR Mongia (INDIA) [/td][td]1994-1998 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]655 [/td][td]27.29 [/td][td]35.15 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]163 [/td][td]GM Turner (NZ) [/td][td]1969-1983 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]2828 [/td][td]45.61 [/td][td]34.99* [/td][td]7 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]164 [/td][td]M Prabhakar (INDIA) [/td][td]1984-1995 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]958 [/td][td]35.48 [/td][td]34.90* [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]165 [/td][td]TR Gripper (ZIM) [/td][td]1999-2004 [/td][td]19 [/td][td]761 [/td][td]22.38 [/td][td]34.9 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]166 [/td][td]CD Cumming (NZ) [/td][td]2005-2008 [/td][td]11 [/td][td]441 [/td][td]25.94 [/td][td]34.86 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]167 [/td][td]HDRL Thirimanne (SL) [/td][td]2011-2019 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]509 [/td][td]20.36 [/td][td]34.81 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]168 [/td][td]A Chopra (INDIA) [/td][td]2003-2004 [/td][td]10 [/td][td]437 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]34.6 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]169 [/td][td]GW Flower (ZIM) [/td][td]1992-2000 [/td][td]45 [/td][td]2373 [/td][td]29.29 [/td][td]33.82 [/td][td]5 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]170 [/td][td]J Dyson (AUS) [/td][td]1977-1984 [/td][td]24 [/td][td]1050 [/td][td]26.25 [/td][td]33.72 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]171 [/td][td]GJ Rennie (ZIM) [/td][td]1997-2000 [/td][td]17 [/td][td]777 [/td][td]24.28 [/td][td]33.65 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]172 [/td][td]SV Carlisle (ZIM) [/td][td]1995-2002 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]362 [/td][td]25.85 [/td][td]33.64 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]173 [/td][td]MD Moxon (ENG) [/td][td]1986-1989 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]397 [/td][td]30.53 [/td][td]33.08 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]174 [/td][td]GS Blewett (AUS) [/td][td]1999-2000 [/td][td]13 [/td][td]588 [/td][td]29.4 [/td][td]32.92 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]175 [/td][td]BA Edgar (NZ) [/td][td]1978-1986 [/td][td]38 [/td][td]1898 [/td][td]30.61 [/td][td]32.09* [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]176 [/td][td]B Wood (ENG) [/td][td]1972-1978 [/td][td]12 [/td][td]454 [/td][td]21.61 [/td][td]31.89* [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]177 [/td][td]MH Dekker (ZIM) [/td][td]1993-1996 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]333 [/td][td]15.85 [/td][td]31.53 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]178 [/td][td]AFG Griffith (WI) [/td][td]1997-2000 [/td][td]14 [/td][td]638 [/td][td]24.53 [/td][td]30.97 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]179 [/td][td]AP Gurusinha (SL) [/td][td]1994-1995 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]433 [/td][td]48.11 [/td][td]30.17 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]180 [/td][td]D Dasgupta (INDIA) [/td][td]2001-2002 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]306 [/td][td]30.6 [/td][td]29.88 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]181 [/td][td]BA Pocock (NZ) [/td][td]1993-1997 [/td][td]15 [/td][td]665 [/td][td]22.93 [/td][td]29.8 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]182 [/td][td]JM Brearley (ENG) [/td][td]1976-1981 [/td][td]25 [/td][td]921 [/td][td]23.02 [/td][td]29.67 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]183 [/td][td]CJ Tavare (ENG) [/td][td]1982-1984 [/td][td]18 [/td][td]966 [/td][td]31.16 [/td][td]29.57 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]184 [/td][td]DJ Murray (NZ) [/td][td]1994-1995 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]303 [/td][td]20.2 [/td][td]29.5 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]185 [/td][td]CL Smith (ENG) [/td][td]1983-1984 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]358 [/td][td]32.54 [/td][td]29.17 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]186 [/td][td]JM Parker (NZ) [/td][td]1973-1974 [/td][td]9 [/td][td]313 [/td][td]19.56 [/td][td]29 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]187 [/td][td]SB Bangar (INDIA) [/td][td]2002-2002 [/td][td]8 [/td][td]327 [/td][td]25.15 [/td][td]28.73 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]188 [/td][td]TJ Franklin (NZ) [/td][td]1983-1991 [/td][td]21 [/td][td]828 [/td][td]23 [/td][td]26.44 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

Note * indicates incomplete data.
PS - I am suprised the legendary Chris Tavare is not at bottom of the list.

Going by this table, Srikanth did it in 80s and Jayasuriya/Afridi did it in 90s.

Such a pity that Afridi started slogging instead of focusing on test cricket. He was a nightmare against test spinners.

 

[Majid Khan]

Someone who was a failure at test cricket and batted like a 10 year old trying to hit the ball out of the park every ball, who will get no mention in any serious discussion about opening batsmen in test cricket other than maybe for comic relief or of talking about most hard hitting sloggers/pinch hitters -
How does Wasim Akram think so highly of this chap as being someone who revolutionised opening batting in test cricket is beyond me, but then again it’s become a tradition on TV these days when introducing your guest he gets praised as a legend and master of his craft even if the individual was mediocre and a flop.

It won’t surprise me if Mohammed Hafeez once he retires gets regularly introduced as one of Pakistan’s cricketing legends and finest batsmen on TV shows and interviews.