Throughout the Cricketing history, 10,000 Test Runs mark has
served as an informal certificate of greatness and legendary status for whoever
crossed this mark. Still there are a few other acknowledged greats of the game
who failed to reach the mark that further adds to the prestige of the
accomplishment. From that eagerly anticipated moment of Sunil Gavaskar becoming
the first man to break the 10,000 Test runs barrier, it has remained quite an
elite club, limited only to a dozen of players out of 2812 players who have
ever played a Test match.
10,000 Test Runs Scorers – in the order of appearance
Player
|
Debut
|
Match Date
|
Time Taken
|
Mat
|
Inns
|
||
1
|
SM Gavaskar (India)
|
6-Mar-71
|
4-Mar-87
|
15y 363d
|
124
|
212
|
|
2
|
AR Border (Aus)
|
29-Dec-78
|
2-Jan-93
|
14y 4d
|
136
|
235
|
|
3
|
SR Waugh (Aus)
|
26-Dec-85
|
2-Jan-03
|
17y 7d
|
156
|
244
|
|
4
|
BC Lara (ICC/WI)
|
6-Dec-90
|
12-Aug-04
|
13y 250d
|
111
|
195
|
|
5
|
SR Tendulkar (India)
|
15-Nov-89
|
16-Mar-05
|
15y 121d
|
122
|
195
|
|
6
|
R Dravid (ICC/India)
|
20-Jun-96
|
26-Mar-08
|
11y 280d
|
120
|
206
|
|
7
|
RT Ponting (Aus)
|
8-Dec-95
|
30-May-08
|
12y 174d
|
118
|
196
|
|
8
|
JH Kallis (ICC/SA)
|
14-Dec-95
|
26-Feb-09
|
13y 74d
|
129
|
217
|
|
9
|
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)
|
2-Aug-97
|
26-Dec-11
|
14y 146d
|
127
|
210
|
|
10
|
S Chanderpaul (WI)
|
17-Mar-94
|
23-Apr-12
|
18y 37d
|
140
|
239
|
|
11
|
KC Sangakkara (SL)
|
20-Jul-00
|
26-Dec-12
|
12y 159d
|
115
|
195
|
|
12
|
AN Cook (Eng)
|
1-Mar-06
|
27-May-16
|
10y 87d
|
128
|
229
|
The latest addition to the distinguished list is Alistair
Cook of England who became the 12th Cricketer in the history to join
the prestigious club on May 27, 2016. Accomplishing
it in a career span of 10 years and 87 days, Cook became the fastest player to
accumulate 10,000 Test Runs beating the previous best of 11 years and 280 days
set by Rahul Dravid. He also became the first English player in 139 years of
English Cricketing history to do that. It is a record in itself for the longest
wait for any country for any of its players to reach the mark.
Unlike registration of other entrants to the club, Cook’s
achievement went less celebrated and was taken more sedately as compared to the
others. In terms of silence, it was probably second to only Chandepraul’s
instance where it was taken more to admire the resilience of the man and
longevity of his career, instead of as an endorsement of his greatness. Unsurprisingly,
these are also the only two names in the list whose case of being regarded as a
great of the game needs a debate while all others are acknowledged as greats of
the game, more or less unanimously.
This observation served as the trigger to look beneath the
surface and dig deeper into the stats and facts to figure out why, even after
passing the de-facto test of greatness, they still struggle to be placed in the
bracket of the greats of the game.
Let’s start with a comparison of batting averages of all those
batsmen when they touched the 10K mark.
Batting Averages at the point of crossing 10,000 Test Runs mark
#
|
Player
|
Avg @10K
|
Debut
|
Match Date
|
Time
|
Mat
|
Inns
|
|
1
|
RT Ponting (Aus)
|
58.72
|
8-Dec-95
|
30-May-08
|
12y 174d
|
118
|
196
|
|
2
|
SR Tendulkar (India)
|
57.58
|
15-Nov-89
|
16-Mar-05
|
15y 121d
|
122
|
195
|
|
3
|
KC Sangakkara (SL)
|
55.8
|
20-Jul-00
|
26-Dec-12
|
12y 159d
|
115
|
195
|
|
4
|
R Dravid (ICC/India)
|
55.41
|
20-Jun-96
|
26-Mar-08
|
11y 280d
|
120
|
206
|
|
5
|
JH Kallis (ICC/SA)
|
54.37
|
14-Dec-95
|
26-Feb-09
|
13y 74d
|
129
|
217
|
|
6
|
BC Lara (ICC/WI)
|
52.91
|
6-Dec-90
|
12-Aug-04
|
13y 250d
|
111
|
195
|
|
7
|
AR Border (Aus)
|
52.08
|
29-Dec-78
|
2-Jan-93
|
14y 4d
|
136
|
235
|
|
8
|
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)
|
51.96
|
2-Aug-97
|
26-Dec-11
|
14y 146d
|
127
|
210
|
|
9
|
SM Gavaskar (India)
|
51.04
|
6-Mar-71
|
4-Mar-87
|
15y 363d
|
124
|
212
|
|
10
|
SR Waugh (Aus)
|
49.45
|
26-Dec-85
|
2-Jan-03
|
17y 7d
|
156
|
244
|
|
11
|
S Chanderpaul (WI)
|
48.98
|
17-Mar-94
|
23-Apr-12
|
18y 37d
|
140
|
239
|
|
12
|
AN Cook (Eng)
|
46.49
|
1-Mar-06
|
27-May-16
|
10y 87d
|
128
|
229
|
It makes the picture a bit clearer. Although, Alistair Cook
has accumulated 10,000 Test Runs within minimum period of time, it has come as
the worst batting average among all the players at the time of passing the
mark. Not surprisingly, Chanderpaul is the next from the bottom in that list.
If the Test batting average of 50 is taken as a benchmark for a batsman, Cook
and Chanderpaul clearly fall short while Steve Waugh is found at the
borderline.
Should these numbers be sufficient to conclude anything on
Cook’s career? How difficult it is for any batsmen to end his career with a
better batting average at the end then at 10K mark? Who has done that and to
what extent? Stats can help us there as well.
Batsmen who improved their Career Batting Average after 10,000 Test Runs
#
|
Player
|
Avg @10K
|
Career Avg
|
Avg Diff
|
Career Runs
|
|
1
|
S Chanderpaul (WI)
|
48.98
|
51.37
|
2.39
|
11,867
|
|
2
|
SR Waugh (Aus)
|
49.45
|
51.06
|
1.61
|
10,927
|
|
3
|
KC Sangakkara (SL)
|
55.8
|
57.4
|
1.6
|
12,400
|
|
4
|
JH Kallis (ICC/SA)
|
54.37
|
55.37
|
1
|
13,289
|
|
5
|
SM Gavaskar (India)
|
51.04
|
51.12
|
0.08
|
10,122
|
|
6
|
AN Cook (Eng)
|
46.49
|
46.49
|
0
|
10,042
|
|
7
|
BC Lara (ICC/WI)
|
52.91
|
52.88
|
-0.03
|
11,953
|
|
8
|
AR Border (Aus)
|
52.08
|
50.56
|
-1.52
|
11,174
|
|
9
|
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)
|
51.96
|
49.84
|
-2.12
|
11,814
|
|
10
|
R Dravid (ICC/India)
|
55.41
|
52.31
|
-3.1
|
13,288
|
|
11
|
SR Tendulkar (India)
|
57.58
|
53.78
|
-3.8
|
15,921
|
|
12
|
RT Ponting (Aus)
|
58.72
|
51.85
|
-6.87
|
13,378
|
Clearly, Chanderpaul and Waugh lead the list. Probably,
because it was easiest in their case. But the two batsmen who stand out in that
list are Kumara Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis. Both were scoring at an average
of around 55 but then they raised the bar even higher after crossing 10K Mark.
No doubt, both of them left the game at a high note and at a point when
everyone was convinced that there was more Cricket left in them.
So if we split the careers of all these batsmen in two parts
– one before 10K mark and the other after 10K mark – how did they perform in
the later part of their career?
Batting Averages after crossing 10,000 Test Runs Mark
#
|
Player
|
Avg @10K
|
Avg after 10K
|
Avg Diff
|
Runs after
10K
|
|
1
|
SR Waugh (Aus)
|
49.45
|
76.61
|
27.16
|
927
|
|
2
|
S Chanderpaul (WI)
|
48.98
|
60.9
|
11.92
|
1,867
|
|
3
|
KC Sangakkara (SL)
|
55.8
|
65.94
|
10.14
|
2,400
|
|
4
|
SM Gavaskar (India)
|
51.04
|
60
|
8.96
|
122
|
|
5
|
JH Kallis (SA)
|
54.37
|
57.91
|
3.54
|
3,289
|
|
6
|
BC Lara (WI)
|
52.91
|
50.25
|
-2.66
|
1,953
|
|
7
|
SR Tendulkar (India)
|
57.58
|
53.53
|
-4.05
|
5,921
|
|
8
|
DPMD Jayawardene (SL)
|
51.96
|
44.26
|
-7.7
|
1,814
|
|
9
|
R Dravid (ICC/India)
|
55.41
|
45.51
|
-9.9
|
3,288
|
|
10
|
AR Border (Aus)
|
52.08
|
41.2
|
-10.88
|
1,174
|
|
11
|
RT Ponting (Aus)
|
58.72
|
38.64
|
-20.08
|
3,378
|
|
12
|
AN Cook (Eng)
|
46.49
|
0
|
-
|
42
|
Steve Waugh’s performance in later part of his career stands
out to be phenomenal but it lasted only for 927 more runs. However, Chanderpaul
and Sangakkara’s numbers are just exceptional, considering they maintained that
rate for quite a considerable period of time after crossing 10K mark.
The other case that stands out, from the bottom though, is
of Ricky Ponting. The numbers reveal that he performed even below the average –
of acceptable batting average of 40 – in later part of his career and
therefore, Australian Cricket was probably justified in helping him expedite
his retirement plans.
Alan Border seemed to have played on probably to take the
target for challengers even higher and probably to let the next captain to
settle down in the team before he hands over the team to him. In Dravid and
Jayawardene’s case, they seemed to have done the right thing in calling it a
day when they eventually did. They were clearly struggling to match their own
standards set in the earlier part of their careers.
Considering Cook is still in 32nd year of his
life with no reason to retire any time in the near future, it has given birth
to some interesting talking points; will Cook be the one to surpass Tendulkar’s
record of most Test Runs in career (15,921)? How much time, Tests and innings
will it take for Cook to do that? Numbers come to our aide in that case too. If
Cook continues at the current pace, this is what is possible.
Alistair Cook – How many more to break Sachin’s Record of most Test Runs?
10,000
|
15,921
|
5,921
|
|
Innings
|
229
|
365
|
136
|
Tests
|
118
|
188
|
70
|
Years
|
10
|
16
|
6
|
The numbers trail highlights some other interesting aspects
too and we will have a deeper look at them one by one. The first one is to have
a look at the players in the vicinity of the mark. Here’s the list of players
who are either inching closer or fell short of the mark in the recent years.
Younis Khan looks well on course to be the next player to join
the club, provided, he doesn’t find yet another innovative way to disrupt his
career. Ian Bell seems to be struggling
with the future of his career already and its still a long way to go for him,
so he seems to be out of the race. Next in line are the two South Africans, AB
DeViliers and Hashim Amla. They both look on track but probably AB DeViliers
may not go the distance and call it a day before reaching there. In rough
estimation, he needs to play three more years; possible but not sure if AB will
play on for that long. However, Hashim Amla looks almost certain to go the
distance.
Younis Khan does not only look on track to be the next
Cricketer to hit the mark but he is well in contention to challenge the records
of reaching their in minimum innings (195 innings of Lara, Tendulkar and Sanga)
as well as in minimum number of Tests (111 Tests of Lara). He has 9 innings and 7 more Tests to score
the remaining 884 runs to equal the respective records.
Younis is already there in International Circuit for 15
years and still has a chance to have a shot at those records, that’s an
interesting reflection. He has played 104 Tests in 15 years, that is, roughly 7
Tests a year. On the other hand, Kevin Pietersen managed to play same amount of
Tests in only 9 years that is at a staggering rate of 11.5 Tests every year and
if he had not retired from the game, he would have played 24 more Tests by now
and would have definitely crossed the 10K mark. To put it into perspective,
Kevin Pietersen averaged at 47.28 but still managed to accumulate 909 runs, on
an average, every year. While Younis Khan with the best average of the lot
(53.94) have been accumulating the least amount of runs – 608 runs per year.
That opens up another dimension of discussion. Add to it the
fact that among all the Test Playing nations (except Bangladesh and Zimbabwe for
obvious reasons), Pakistan is the only country that is still missing
representation in the prestigious Club-10K. To have an idea about possible
reasons, nothing can be better than to have a look at the top Pakistani batsmen
with highest number of Test Runs
Pakistan Players with Highest Matches Per Year Ratio (Qualification: 6,000+ Test
Runs)
Player
|
Span
|
Years
|
Mat
|
Mat/yr
|
Inns
|
Runs
|
Runs/yr
|
Ave
|
Inzamam-ul-Haq
|
1992-2007
|
15
|
120
|
8.00
|
200
|
8830
|
589
|
49.6
|
Mohammad Yousuf
|
1998-2010
|
12
|
90
|
7.50
|
156
|
7530
|
628
|
52.29
|
Javed Miandad
|
1976-1993
|
17
|
124
|
7.29
|
189
|
8832
|
520
|
52.57
|
Younis Khan
|
2000-2015
|
15
|
104
|
6.93
|
186
|
9116
|
608
|
53.94
|
The common theme looks to be the low number of Test per
year. Only Inzamam managed to play 8 Tests a year, while, the rate for others
remained lower with Younis Khan having the lowest Matches per year ratio. That
also goes to show the struggle he had to go through to reach to this point.
Numbers don’t mean much until put into perspective. To
understand the right weight to this observation is naturally to compare it with
the stats of other players and here is how that comparison looks like
Test Players who played Highest Number of Matches Per Year (Qualification: 6,000+ Test
Runs)
Player
|
Country
|
Span
|
Years
|
Mat
|
Mat/yr
|
Inns
|
Runs
|
Runs/yr
|
Ave
|
AN Cook
|
Eng
|
2006-2016
|
10
|
128
|
12.80
|
229
|
10042
|
1004
|
46.49
|
AJ Strauss
|
Eng
|
2004-2012
|
8
|
100
|
12.50
|
178
|
7037
|
880
|
40.91
|
ME Waugh
|
Aus
|
1991-2002
|
11
|
128
|
11.64
|
209
|
8029
|
730
|
41.81
|
KP Pietersen
|
Eng
|
2005-2014
|
9
|
104
|
11.56
|
181
|
8181
|
909
|
47.28
|
IR Bell
|
Eng
|
2004-2015
|
11
|
118
|
10.73
|
205
|
7727
|
702
|
42.69
|
MJ Clarke
|
Aus
|
2004-2015
|
11
|
115
|
10.45
|
198
|
8643
|
786
|
49.1
|
MA Taylor
|
Aus
|
1989-1999
|
10
|
104
|
10.40
|
186
|
7525
|
753
|
43.49
|
R Dravid
|
India
|
1996-2012
|
16
|
164
|
10.25
|
286
|
13288
|
831
|
52.31
|
AJ Stewart
|
Eng
|
1990-2003
|
13
|
133
|
10.23
|
235
|
8463
|
651
|
39.54
|
RT Ponting
|
Aus
|
1995-2012
|
17
|
168
|
9.88
|
287
|
13378
|
787
|
51.85
|
MEK Hussey
|
Aus
|
2005-2013
|
8
|
79
|
9.88
|
137
|
6235
|
779
|
51.52
|
AR Border
|
Aus
|
1978-1994
|
16
|
156
|
9.75
|
265
|
11174
|
698
|
50.56
|
GC Smith
|
SA
|
2002-2014
|
12
|
117
|
9.75
|
205
|
9265
|
772
|
48.25
|
MA Atherton
|
Eng
|
1989-2001
|
12
|
115
|
9.58
|
212
|
7728
|
644
|
37.69
|
SC Ganguly
|
India
|
1996-2008
|
12
|
113
|
9.42
|
188
|
7212
|
601
|
42.17
|
JH Kallis
|
SA
|
1995-2013
|
18
|
166
|
9.22
|
280
|
13289
|
738
|
55.37
|
G Kirsten
|
SA
|
1993-2004
|
11
|
101
|
9.18
|
176
|
7289
|
663
|
45.27
|
KC Sangakkara
|
SL
|
2000-2015
|
15
|
134
|
8.93
|
233
|
12400
|
827
|
57.4
|
DC Boon
|
Aus
|
1984-1996
|
12
|
107
|
8.92
|
190
|
7422
|
619
|
43.65
|
SR Waugh
|
Aus
|
1985-2004
|
19
|
168
|
8.84
|
260
|
10927
|
575
|
51.06
|
AB de Villiers
|
SA
|
2004-2016
|
12
|
106
|
8.83
|
176
|
8074
|
673
|
50.46
|
DPMD Jayawardene
|
SL
|
1997-2014
|
17
|
149
|
8.76
|
252
|
11814
|
695
|
49.84
|
V Sehwag
|
India
|
2001-2013
|
12
|
104
|
8.67
|
180
|
8586
|
716
|
49.34
|
BB McCullum
|
NZ
|
2004-2016
|
12
|
101
|
8.42
|
176
|
6453
|
538
|
38.64
|
VVS Laxman
|
India
|
1996-2012
|
16
|
134
|
8.38
|
225
|
8781
|
549
|
45.97
|
DI Gower
|
Eng
|
1978-1992
|
14
|
117
|
8.36
|
204
|
8231
|
588
|
44.25
|
SR Tendulkar
|
India
|
1989-2013
|
24
|
200
|
8.33
|
329
|
15921
|
663
|
53.78
|
GP Thorpe
|
Eng
|
1993-2005
|
12
|
100
|
8.33
|
179
|
6744
|
562
|
44.66
|
BC Lara
|
WI
|
1990-2006
|
16
|
131
|
8.19
|
232
|
11953
|
747
|
52.88
|
Inzamam-ul-Haq
|
Pak
|
1992-2007
|
15
|
120
|
8.00
|
200
|
8830
|
589
|
49.6
|
SP Fleming
|
NZ
|
1994-2008
|
14
|
111
|
7.93
|
189
|
7172
|
512
|
40.06
|
SM Gavaskar
|
India
|
1971-1987
|
16
|
125
|
7.81
|
214
|
10122
|
633
|
51.12
|
S Chanderpaul
|
WI
|
1994-2015
|
21
|
164
|
7.81
|
280
|
11867
|
565
|
51.37
|
HM Amla
|
SA
|
2004-2016
|
12
|
92
|
7.67
|
156
|
7358
|
613
|
51.45
|
JL Langer
|
Aus
|
1993-2007
|
14
|
105
|
7.50
|
182
|
7696
|
550
|
45.27
|
Mohammad Yousuf
|
Pak
|
1998-2010
|
12
|
90
|
7.50
|
156
|
7530
|
628
|
52.29
|
The list reveals some more interesting facts. Except for
Dravid (10.25) and Smith (9.75), there is no other nationality except English
and Australian who has played at higher than 9.5 Tests per year rate. That goes
to show the advantage players from these countries enjoy in playing most Tests
during minimum time. Coincidentally, Alistair Cook tops the list with almost 13
Tests per year – the most ever by any player. That also partially explains how
Cook managed to score 10,000 runs in minimum time with worst of batting
average. Its pretty simple; his board arranged a better schedule for him.
Test Players who played Lowest Number of Matches Per Year (Qualification: 6,000+ Test Runs)
Player
|
Country
|
Span
|
Years
|
Mat
|
Mat/yr
|
Inns
|
Runs
|
Runs/yr
|
Ave
|
DG Bradman
|
Aus
|
1928-1948
|
20
|
52
|
2.60
|
80
|
6996
|
350
|
99.94
|
WR Hammond
|
Eng
|
1927-1947
|
20
|
85
|
4.25
|
140
|
7249
|
362
|
58.45
|
L Hutton
|
Eng
|
1937-1955
|
18
|
79
|
4.39
|
138
|
6971
|
387
|
56.67
|
RB Kanhai
|
WI
|
1957-1974
|
17
|
79
|
4.65
|
137
|
6227
|
366
|
47.53
|
GS Sobers
|
WI
|
1954-1974
|
20
|
93
|
4.65
|
160
|
8032
|
402
|
57.78
|
PA de Silva
|
SL
|
1984-2002
|
18
|
93
|
5.17
|
159
|
6361
|
353
|
42.97
|
RN Harvey
|
Aus
|
1948-1963
|
15
|
79
|
5.27
|
137
|
6149
|
410
|
48.41
|
MC Cowdrey
|
Eng
|
1954-1975
|
21
|
114
|
5.43
|
188
|
7624
|
363
|
44.06
|
CH Lloyd
|
WI
|
1966-1985
|
19
|
110
|
5.79
|
175
|
7515
|
396
|
46.67
|
GA Gooch
|
Eng
|
1975-1995
|
20
|
118
|
5.90
|
215
|
8900
|
445
|
42.58
|
G Boycott
|
Eng
|
1964-1982
|
18
|
108
|
6.00
|
193
|
8114
|
451
|
47.72
|
M Azharuddin
|
India
|
1984-2000
|
16
|
99
|
6.19
|
147
|
6215
|
388
|
45.03
|
GS Chappell
|
Aus
|
1970-1984
|
14
|
87
|
6.21
|
151
|
7110
|
508
|
53.86
|
KF Barrington
|
Eng
|
1955-1968
|
13
|
82
|
6.31
|
131
|
6806
|
524
|
58.67
|
CG Greenidge
|
WI
|
1974-1991
|
17
|
108
|
6.35
|
185
|
7558
|
445
|
44.72
|
GR Viswanath
|
India
|
1969-1983
|
14
|
91
|
6.50
|
155
|
6080
|
434
|
41.93
|
ML Hayden
|
Aus
|
1994-2009
|
15
|
103
|
6.87
|
184
|
8625
|
575
|
50.73
|
ST Jayasuriya
|
SL
|
1991-2007
|
16
|
110
|
6.88
|
188
|
6973
|
436
|
40.07
|
Younis Khan
|
Pak
|
2000-2015
|
15
|
104
|
6.93
|
186
|
9116
|
608
|
53.94
|
IVA Richards
|
WI
|
1974-1991
|
17
|
121
|
7.12
|
182
|
8540
|
502
|
50.23
|
DL Haynes
|
WI
|
1978-1994
|
16
|
116
|
7.25
|
202
|
7487
|
468
|
42.29
|
DB Vengsarkar
|
India
|
1976-1992
|
16
|
116
|
7.25
|
185
|
6868
|
429
|
42.13
|
Javed Miandad
|
Pak
|
1976-1993
|
17
|
124
|
7.29
|
189
|
8832
|
520
|
52.57
|
CH Gayle
|
WI
|
2000-2014
|
14
|
103
|
7.36
|
182
|
7214
|
515
|
42.18
|
Mohammad Yousuf
|
Pak
|
1998-2010
|
12
|
90
|
7.50
|
156
|
7530
|
628
|
52.29
|
JL Langer
|
Aus
|
1993-2007
|
14
|
105
|
7.50
|
182
|
7696
|
550
|
45.27
|
HH Gibbs
|
SA
|
1996-2008
|
12
|
90
|
7.50
|
154
|
6167
|
514
|
41.95
|
HM Amla
|
SA
|
2004-2016
|
12
|
92
|
7.67
|
156
|
7358
|
613
|
51.45
|
S Chanderpaul
|
WI
|
1994-2015
|
21
|
164
|
7.81
|
280
|
11867
|
565
|
51.37
|
SM Gavaskar
|
India
|
1971-1987
|
16
|
125
|
7.81
|
214
|
10122
|
633
|
51.12
|
SP Fleming
|
NZ
|
1994-2008
|
14
|
111
|
7.93
|
189
|
7172
|
512
|
40.06
|
Inzamam-ul-Haq
|
Pak
|
1992-2007
|
15
|
120
|
8.00
|
200
|
8830
|
589
|
49.6
|
BC Lara
|
WI
|
1990-2006
|
16
|
131
|
8.19
|
232
|
11953
|
747
|
52.88
|
SR Tendulkar
|
India
|
1989-2013
|
24
|
200
|
8.33
|
329
|
15921
|
663
|
53.78
|
GP Thorpe
|
Eng
|
1993-2005
|
12
|
100
|
8.33
|
179
|
6744
|
562
|
44.66
|
DI Gower
|
Eng
|
1978-1992
|
14
|
117
|
8.36
|
204
|
8231
|
588
|
44.25
|
Here’s the reverse view of the same list that points at some
interesting suppositions. If Bradman would have enjoyed a rate of 10 Tests per
year, he might have retired with around 24,000 Test Runs by 1950. Simply
fascinating. If Sobers had played 9 Tests per year as compared to 4.65 that he
played, he would have already scored 16,000 Test runs by 1970s. Even Geoffery
Boycott, who once held the record of highest number of Test runs till Sunil
Gavaskar surpassed him, played at 6 Tests per year. If he had enjoyed the same
rate that is enjoyed by the English players of today, he might have broken the
10,000 Test Runs barrier back in early 1980s. Miandad and Viv Richard’s numbers
– not just matches per year but number of Tests, years of career and runs –
look intriguingly similar. Hayden and Jayasuria’s matches per year numbers look
deflated due to the fact that they initially, remained outside their respective
teams after the debut.
Putting these lists of highest and lowest number of Tests
per year into consideration, it clearly explains why some of the players, even
after falling short of 10,000 Test runs mark, are still regarded as greats of
the game while Club-10K now has couple of players, at least, who would always
struggle to find their names in the list of greats of the game. In the end,
greatness is an endorsement by the viewers not a number from the stats.