Test cricket is one of the most difficult formats for a batter. Apart from possessing the skills, a player needs some time at the highest level to develop various other attributes of his game. While a few players, courtesy of their early debut, get a good chance to make a lot of runs, for most of the others, it does not happen that way. If 25 is considered as the point of comparison between batsmen, we can get a fair idea of the skills and performances of the players. On that note, in this article, we take a look at the list of players with the most Test runs at the age of 25.
5) Graeme Smith (South Africa) – 4285
Matches: 54 || Average: 47.08 || Hundreds: 11 || Debut Age: 21 Years
Former South African skipper Graeme Smith takes the fifth position in this list. Although he played at No.3 in his first game, Smith was promoted to open the batting soon. He responded with a double hundred and broke a few records in the process.
Not just with the bat, Smith also enjoyed a fine stint as the skipper of the nation. He took up the role at a young age under uncertain circumstances. Smith ended as the only player to have captained 100 Tests in the history of the game.
4) Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 4309
Matches: 50 || Average: 51.29 || Hundreds: 14 || Debut Age: 20 Years
Kane Williamson is part of this list of players with the most Test runs at the age of 25. After his success in the U19 format, Kane first made his ODI debut. He got the Test cap against India in 2010.
The right-hander scored a century in that game, becoming the eighth Kiwi to hit a hundred on debut. Since then, Kane has only climbed up the ladder in his career. Currently, he is only a few runs behind Ross Taylor in the list of highest run-getters for New Zealand in Tests. In a few years, he could also become the first player from the nation to hit 10000 runs in Tests.
3) Joe Root (England) – 4594
Matches: 53 || Average: 52.80 || Hundreds: 11 || Debut Age: 21 Years
Like Williamson, Joe Root also made his Test debut against India. He batted at No.6 but soon, courtesy of his stellar shows, Root made his way up the order. In recent years, the player has been in top form.
While he made the most runs in 2021, Root is all set to hit the 10000 run-mark very soon. With a few more years to go in his career, the English skipper could challenge Sachin’s record.
2) Alastair Cook (England) – 4859
Matches: 63 || Average: 45.83 || Hundreds: 15 || Debut Age: 21 Years
England was looking for options at the top of the order, and Alastair Cook emerged at the right time. He also did well in the chances he got, and soon, the southpaw made the opening slot his own.
Having made, 12472 runs in his career, Cook retired at the age of 34. He had been struggling for form and hence, retired from international cricket. At one point, he looked all set to beat Sachin’s record of most runs scored in Tests. However, that did not happen.
1) Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 5177
Matches: 68 || Average: 54.49 || Hundreds: 19 || Debut Age: 16 Years
Sachin Tendulkar stands at No.1 in this list of players with the most Test runs at the age of 25. Having made his debut at the tender age of 16, Sachin had almost spent a decade at the highest level before turning 25. He also had the skills to with it, and hence, by 25 years of age, the Mumbai cricketer had already established his name as a top batter.
Having faced the toughest of attacks in his initial years, Sachin earned experience very quickly. Therefore, he was comfortable at 25, the age in cricket, which is considered as the start of the peak of a cricketer. By the time he retired, Sachin scored more than, 15000 runs in Tests and also featured in 200 Tests, a feat that’s unimaginable for any cricketer.
