Best Opening Pairs in Test Cricket
In a five-day game where both the teams play twice, openers play an important role in setting the foundation right. For a team batting first, you want your openers to give a great start so that the others could capitalize on that and put pressure on the opposition. Opening batsmen play one of the biggest roles in turning the fortunes of a team in Test Cricket. No wonder why the teams who have great openers at their disposal have been so successful in the longest format.
In Test Cricket, if openers fall early, it becomes really difficult for the middle order to lead the recovery against the red ball. Openers play against the best bowlers of the opposition team and face the toughest spells in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket, over the years, has witnessed numerous world-class openers who went onto become an inspiration for the younger generation.
In this article, we look at 5 best opening pairs in the history of Test Cricket.
#5 Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag is hailed as one of the best Indian opening pair in Test Cricket. It was absolute fun watching the two bat together, irrespective of the format. Both shared a great bond together and played for the Delhi Ranji team. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were involved in a lot of eye-catching opening partnerships during the period between 2004 and 2012. They batted together at the opening position in 87 Tests and scored 4412 runs at an average of 52.52. They were involved in 11 hundred-run partnerships in Test Cricket.
#4 Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya
Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya ended their careers with heaps of runs under their belts. Both scored a lot of runs across formats and shared some terrific partnerships in Test Cricket. They scored together 4469 runs in 118 innings when opened for Sri Lanka in Test. They scored runs at a healthy average of 40.26 and shared 9 hundred-run partnerships in the longest format of the game.
#3 Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss
During the period between 2006 and 2012, England was blessed with a solid opening pair in Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook. Both of them have been prolific run-scorers for England. Alastair Cook is in fact the highest run-scorer for England in Tests. Cook and Strauss scored plenty of runs together as openers and contributed significantly in England’s Test wins.
They are currently the third-best opening pair in Test Cricket, having scored 4771 runs together at an average of 40.96. Besides, they shared 14 hundred-run partnerships when opened for England in Tests.
#2 Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer
During the period 2000 and 2007, Australia was considered as invisibles. They boasted of a strong batting unit, including a world-class opening pair of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer. Langer and Hayden had the ability to stitch a big partnership and tire out the opposition bowlers.
Both the southpaws enjoyed a terrific Test cricket career. They stitched a lot of partnerships together which helped the team win games. Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer are currently the second-best opening pair in Test Cricket. The duo batted together in 113 innings, scoring 5655 runs at an average of 51.88.
#1 Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes
The former West Indies opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes is still the best opening pair in Test Cricket. Greenidge and Haynes loved batting together and piled on numerous partnerships together. Greenidge and Hayden played one of the biggest roles in making West Indies a formidable Test unit during the 90s. They opened together in 148 innings, scoring 6482 runs together at an average of 47.31. The stitched as many as 16 hundred-run partnerships.
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