Every person in this world
requires a partner to survive. Life gets all the more interesting if you find a
suitable partner who compliments you and helps you succeed. Cricket is no
different. Partnerships are an integral part of the game and are extremely
necessary in order to emerge victorious. Batting partnerships help a team post
a huge total on the board. Many a times we just talk about these partnerships
and ignore the bowling department. Bowling in partnerships is as important as
its batting counterpart and requires tremendous skill and understanding on the
part of both the bowlers. It is often said that bowlers hunt in pairs.
One of them usually tries to dry up the runs. The batsman then try to go after
the other one and hence end up losing their wicket. But at the end of the day
the batting partnerships are of more significance and so let’s take a look at
the 5 most successful batting pairs in test history(in terms of number of runs
scored).
1.
Dravid/Tendulkar: 6920 runs at an average of
50.51
Two of the most respected
players in world cricket are sitting at the top of the tree. I think most of
you won’t be surprised to see them as the most successful pair in tests because
over the years both of them have had tons of match winning as well as match saving
innings for India. They both have the skills and the temperament to perform not
only in subcontinent but also in the tough overseas conditions. They have had
20 century stands in tests.
They both are true ambassadors
of the gentleman’s game. Never have they fallen prey to any on field or off
field controversies. Coming in at 3 and 4 they have always risen up to the
occasion and treated us with many memorable knocks. After Sachin’s
retirement(Dravid already has), there will be a huge void to fill for India in
the middle order. I hope the next Sachin and Dravid are just round the corner.
2.
Greenidge/Haynes: 6482 runs at an average of
47.31
They are without a doubt one of
the most prolific opening pairs that the 5 day game has seen. With Haynes being
solid in defence and Greenidge the aggressor, this pair has demolished bowling
attacks from all over the world. They were involved in 16 century stands, which
itself speaks a lot for the pair’s success at the international level. There is
nothing better to open the innings for your side and provide a platform for
your middle order and this pair has more often than not succeeded in doing
that.
For a long time now, West
Indies haven’t found a secure opening pair. Now with Gayle coming back into the
side, we hope to see some fire-crackers at the top of the innings and we also
hope to see West Indies having a settled opening pair.
3.
Hayden/Langer: 6081 runs at an average of 51.53
It was one of the most feared
opening pairs that we have ever witnessed. With Langer’s calmness and Hayden’s
flamboyance, this Australian pair had left no stone unturned. They hold the
record for the highest number of double hundred stands (5). Providing Australia
with a solid start upfront had become a habit for these Legends of the game. I
still remember the 242 run stand that they had put up against the West Indies
at St. Johns (2002-03). The way they blasted the bowlers to all parts of the
field left the opposition clueless.
Sadly, both of them have
retired from International cricket. Australia have struggled to find a good
opening pair for some time now, but with Warner and Watson opening the batting
now, I hope they can do even half of what Langer and Hayden did for Australia.
4.
Jayawardene/Sangakkara: 5444
runs (and still counting) at an average of 57.91
This pair is still going strong
in the tests for Sri Lanka. Elegance is always associated with left handers but
if there is one right handed batsman who makes you scream out ‘WOW’ when he
strokes the ball, it is Jayawardene. His elegance is unmatched. Sangakkara
being a left handed batsman is right at the top with Jayawardene when it comes
to elegance. Over the years, these two have taken care of Sri Lanka’s middle
order and have done it with some conviction.
They hold the record for the
highest partnership in tests (624 runs) for any wicket. These guys play spin
really well and as a result, it is impossible to stop them from scoring in sub
continental conditions. They have been a force to reckon with even on foreign
soil but they are at their best when at home. With still a few years ahead of
them, I would not be surprised to see them climb up a few spots in these
rankings.
5.
Strauss/Cook: 5085 runs (and still counting) at an
average of 41.34
England’s most successful
partnership in tests has never failed to impress us. Opening the batting on
seaming English wickets is no child’s play. They have done it day in and day
out without much trouble and that is why they are on this list. Both of them
are natural stroke-players. They have been extremely consistent for England
even on subcontinent wickets.
Their highest partnership for
England has been a 317 run stand against the West Indies at Bridgetown. They
have been one of the major reasons for England’s rise to the top in Tests and
only if they continue to perform well at the top, will England be able to
consolidate their position.
These were the best batting
pairs that the world has witnessed till date. I hope that there are more in the
making so that the joy of watching cricket never dies out!
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