Each batting slot in a Test XI has a specific role. There are certain expectations from every player who goes out to bat at a slot. While scoring runs is of the utmost priority, at times, due to the context of the game, there could be other objectives for the batters. For instance, while usually a No.6 or No.7 batter is expected to score quick runs if there is an early collapse, he/she must also look at building the innings. These situations have given rise to some terrific batting displays at each of the batting slots. We have also constituted a special playing XI based on this. On that note, here, we take a look at the Test playing XI comprising players with the highest individual score in each batting position.
Openers: M Hayden (380) and L Hutton (364)
Matthew Hayden and L Hutton are the openers of this Test-playing XI comprising players with the highest individual score in each batting position. For a long time, Brian Lara’s 375* was the highest individual score in Tests. However, Hayden, in the 2003 Perth game against Zimbabwe, broke this record.
One of the first triple-centuries in Tests was scored by Len Hutton. This knock came about against Australia at the Oval way back in 1938. He took 797 deliveries for scoring 364 runs.
No.3, 4, 5, 6, 7: Brian Lara (400*), Mahela Jayawardene (374), Michael Clarke (329*), Ben Stokes (258) and Don Bradman (270)
After Matthew Hayden went past his record, it was almost as if Lara was desperate to reclaim it. Within six months of Hayden’s 380, Lara scored a 400 – the first in the history of the game. This inning was against England at St John’s. Jayawardene was a fine middle-order batter and he had a great game against South Africa in 2006. This knock included 43 sixes. Michael Clarke’s 329* against India came at a time when his team was looking at a collapse. Hence, this will go down as one of the best knocks in the game.
At No.6 and No.7, we have Ben Stokes and Don Bradman. No player has scored a triple century while batting at No.6 and below. Stokes’ famous Cape Town knock in 2016 is a part of this list while Bradman once batted at No.7 and got 270 runs. This was at the MCG.
No.8, 9, 10, 11: Wasim Akram (257*), Ian Smith (WK) (173), Walter Read (117), Ashton Agar (98)
Wasim Akram will lead the pace attack of this Test playing XI comprising players with the highest individual score in each batting position. Along with his impact as a bowler, Wasim also often contributed with this bat. In the game against Zimbabwe in 1996, Pakistan was losing the hold. That is when skipper Wasim Akram stepped up to give a good score for his team.
Ian Smith and Walter Read have the highest scores at No.9 and No.10. While Ian Smith is a wicket-keeper batter, Walter Read was a pure batter. They both just happened to bat at these positions. Ashton Agar’s brilliant 98 was in his debut game. He surprised the Englishmen with his ability to get runs easily. Almost no one expected the youngster to step up with the bat. It also came at an important time. Australia was 117-9 and it was due to Agar’s knock that Australia reached 280 and claimed the first-innings lead. At the moment, Agar has turned out to become an all-rounder and bats at No.7 and sometimes, even above.
