Stats 2017: Batsmen with most runs in Test cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara has been the most successful batsman in Test match cricket in 2017 scoring a total of 1140 runs in 11 matches at an average of 67.06. The Indian right-hander was in top form right through the year as he decimated each and every bowling attack that came his way. The 29-year-old’s consistency at the no. 3 position was the main reason why India managed to dominate in the longest format of the game and finished the year at the top of the ICC rankings.

While Pujara is leading the chart, Steve Smith is breathing down his neck as the Australian captain is just 13 runs behind. The New South Welshman enjoyed another fruitful year in red-ball cricket as he amassed runs at an average of over 70 with a total of 5 hundreds. He had a tough assignment in hand in the form of India tour in the earlier parts of the year and he came out with flying colours as he scored 3 hundreds on rank turners and guided the Kangaroos to a historical win in the first Test of the series in Pune.

It was a memorable occasion for Australia as they secure a Test victory in India after a gap of more than a decade and it came on the back of Smith’s high class hundred in the second innings which, many believe, is one of the best innings played by an overseas batsman in the subcontinent ever.

Amongst the others who had a fair bit of success in Test match cricket in 2017 were Indian captain Virat Kohli and the South African opener Deal Elgar. Kohli had a great start to the year as he scored a double hundred against Bangladesh, but he lost his touch against Australia and went through a rare lean patch. He, however, rediscovered his mojo in the latter half of the year and piled up the runs against Sri Lanka in both the home and away series and dragged his tally past 1000 runs.

Elgar was solid as usual for South Africa as he played some real gutsy knock at the top of the order in tough English conditions as well as on seaming pitches back home. A couple of Sri Lankans namely Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal also feature in top 10 highest run-getters in Test cricket in 2017 as each of the two players have more than 1000 runs to their names with 3 hundreds apiece.

Here is the list of batsmen with most runs in Test cricket in 2017