The cricket fraternity has witnessed plenty of batters making a real case for themselves in competitive cricket. The batters did face a plethora of challenges, especially in terms of tackling the red ball. However, the batters defied the odds and accomplished milestones for the team.
When it comes to Test cricket, several quality batters come to our mind. Sachin Tendulkar, Don Bradman, Vivian Richards, Steve Smith, Alastair Cook, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sunil Gavaskar and so on.
Case in point, we will now take a glimpse at the three batters who took the fewest innings to complete 9000 runs in the longest format of the game.
1. Kumar Sangakkara
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time took the fewest innings to score 9000 runs in the longest format of the game.
The Sri Lankan batting great took 172 innings to reach 9000 runs in Tests. Overall, he scored 12,400 runs at a spectacular batting average of 57.14 including eleven double centuries, 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries.
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2. Steve Smith
Steve Smith is currently rated as the best Test batsman in the present era. He has time and again perfected the art of scoring runs on a consistent basis. He played many impactful knocks for the team in the longest format.
Smith recently became the second-fastest batsman to complete 9000 runs in Tests. It took him 174 innings to achieve the feat. Overall, he scored 9079 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 59.73 including 32 centuries, 4 double centuries and 37 fifties.
3. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid is popularly known as The Wall of Indian Cricket. The Indian batting great is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He is the third-fastest batter to score 9000 runs in Test cricket.
Dravid accomplished the feat in 176 innings. He has had a spectacular Test career wherein he scored 13,288 runs at a phenomenal batting average of 52.3 including 5 double centuries, 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries.
Fewest innings to 9000 Test Runs
172 – K Sangakkara
174 – Steve Smith*
176 – Rahul Dravid
177 – Brian Lara
177 – Ricky Ponting #SteveSmith | #TheAshes— Cricbaba (@thecricbaba) June 28, 2023
