Stats: Fastest New Zealand batsmen to score 5000 Test runs

The world is focusing on likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root while the New Zealand captain Kane Williamson quietly breaks the records. He has been phenomenal for New Zealand playing in difficult conditions and still scoring runs. The series against South Africa, however, did not go to plan for him until today when he smacked a century in the most needful hour for New Zealand.

Williamson is known for his immaculate technique and his stone hard mentality. It is very hard to get under his skin and you have to be very skillful to get this batter out. Today playing his 110th inning in Tests, Williamson reached 5000 runs for his country. He did it in just 61 Test matches and became the fastest to reach the mark.

Martin Crowe, who recently lost his battle to cancer, was the previous record holder. He was truly one of the greatest cricketers to have graced the game and Williamson has surpassed him in this department. He not only became the fastest man from New Zealand to reach the 5000 runs but also equaled the record for most centuries by a Kiwi in Tests.

Williamson scored his 17th ton today and equaled another record Martin owned for a long time. The fact that Williamson is just 26-years-old makes it even more special. He will surely get past him in near future and the mantle of greatness will be successfully passed on.

There are not many players from New Zealand who achieved this feat. Only five more batsmen barring Williamson have got to 5000 Tests runs. Brendon McCullum is one of them. McCullum has scored more than 6000 runs in Tests before retiring, Ross Taylor who is still playing for the Kiwis is just one century away from equaling Kane and Martin’s record has also scored more than 5000 runs.

There is Stephen Fleming the former Kiwi captain who is the highest run-getter stands tall at the helm of run scorers for New Zealand. As he has scored over 7000 runs for his country.

Here is the list of leading run-scorers for New Zealand in Test cricket: