Test Cricket, the ultimate test of endurance, requires openers with excellent mental strength to put their team in a commanding position. The five-day cricketing action takes a massive toll on the human body, and openers in Test cricket are expected to weather the difficult conditions and provide their team with a perfect start. Test playing nations have tried hundreds of opening batters at the number one and two positions, but only a handful of those have become successful.
Here are the 7 best Test openers:
7- David Warner
The Southpaw from Australia is the only active cricketer on this list. He has been the synonym of consistency for Kangaroos in Test cricket. David Warner has played some massive knocks, including his career-best of 335 against Pakistan.
Till now, Warner has played 94 matches in which he has scored 7,753 runs at an average of 46.99. He has already smashed 24 hundred and 34 fifties in his career.
6- Geoffrey Boycott
The English opener from the 1970s was a menace to deal with for the opposition bowlers. Boycott has been regarded as a legend of the game due to his massive contribution to cricket.
He represented England in 107 Tests, in which he played 191 innings and smashed 8,091 runs at an impressive average of 48.16. He also has 22 Test centuries to his name as an opener.
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5- Virender Sehwag
The destructive right-handed opener, which got going from the first ball in the match, gave opposition bowlers and the captain many sleepless nights. Virender Sehwag was an epitome of destruction in the Tests.
He is the only Indian cricketer to have scored three 300s in Test cricket. He played 104 Tests and notched up 8,586 runs at an average of 49.34 and 23 hundred.
4- Mathew Hayden
Mathew Hayden is the best Australian opener in Test cricket history. He was a fearsome batter who could send the ball a long way. His 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 is the second-highest Test score by an individual.
He played 103 Tests to amass 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73. He also broke many records by scoring 30 centuries at the top of the order.
3- Sunil Gavaskar
The Indian legend often referred to as the best Indian Test cricketer ever, was a dogged and fearless batter. He never wore a helmet during his stay at the crease, irrespective of the pace of the bowler. His belief in his technique was second to none.
Sunil Gavaskar played 125 Test matches and gathered 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12. Gavaskar scored 34 Test centuries in his legendary career.
2- Graeme Smith
The former South African captain was a determined and passionate individual who wore his heart on his sleeve against the opponents. He was handed the captaincy of his team when he was fairly new to cricket, and yet he shined to take Proteas to the new heights.
His character on the field defined his attitude towards the game. One can never forget his attempt to save a Test game against Australia with one hand being useless due to an injury. He played 117 Tests to score 9,265 runs at an average of 48.2. Smith has 27 hundred to his name in the longest form of the game.
1- Alastair Cook
Sir Alastair Cook is the most successful opener ever in Test cricket. He retired at the young age of 33 in 2018, which robbed him of the chance to go past the run tally of Sachin Tendulkar in the most challenging format of the game. He is the only Test opener to go past 10,000 runs in his eponymous career.
He represented the England cricket team in 161 Tests and scored 12,472 runs. Cook averaged in excess of 45 and smashed 33 centuries in Tests. His highest Test score of 294 runs came against India in 2011 at Birmingham.
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