Making a debut in test cricket is the biggest dream for any cricketer who plays for his country. It is because this is the toughest format in the game of cricket. Playing a red-ball game is always a big achievement for any player who represents their country. But the biggest challenge is to keep on performing.
Some players fail, while others go on to register their names among the top players in the game. This article will show a list of some of the real competitors that this game has produced. In this article, we will discuss the list of the fastest players who have scored 3000 career runs in tests.
5. Jack Hobbs (England) – 75 innings
Former English middle-order batter Jack Hobbs is the fourth fastest batter on the list. Hobbs made his test debut in January 1908 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He played for 22 years in his international career. It took him 75 innings to complete 3000 runs in red-ball cricket. Hobbs played 61 tests in his career and scored 5410 runs at an average of 56.94, with 15 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
4. Viv Richards (West Indies) – 71 innings
Former legendary West Indies cricketer Viv Richards is the joint-third-fastest player to reach 3000 test runs. Richards was known for his aggressive batting and also dominated the opposition. He made his test debut in November 1974 against India in Bengaluru. He completed 3000 test runs in his 71st inning. Overall, Richards played 121 games and scored 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23, including 24 centuries and 45 half-centuries. His highest score was 291.
3. Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 71 innings
Former West Indies cricketer, formerly known as Sir Everton Weekes, is another batter who is the joint-third fastest on the list. Weekes made his debut for the West Indies on January 21, 1948, against England. He represented the West Indies for the next 10 years. It took him 71 innings to complete 3000 runs in the longest format of his career. At the time of his retirement, he had scored 4455 runs in 48 games at an average of 58.61, with 15 centuries and 19 half-centuries.
2. Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 68 innings
Herbert Sutcliffe, a former England opener, is the second-fastest batsman to complete 3000 career runs in test cricket. Sutcliffe gained popularity in the later half of his career as a successful opener for England. He made his debut in June 1924 against South Africa. Sutcliffe played for nine years for his country and played 54 test matches. He scored 4555 runs at an average of 59.93, with 16 centuries and 23 half-centuries. Sutcliffe reached the 3000-run mark in his career in his 68th inning.
1. Don Bradman (Australia) – 48 innings
If there is one man who will hold almost all the batting records in Test cricket, then it will be the Australian legend Don Bradman. A man who holds most of the batting records. The statistics suggest that he was one of the best players who ever played the game. Bradman made his debut in November 1928 against England. It took him just 48 innings to reach 3,000 career runs. Overall, he scored 6996 runs in 52 games at an unbelievable average of 99.94, with 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries.
List of Fastest 4000 Runs in Test cricket
| Player | Against | Match Date | Debut | Time | Mts | Inns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Bradman (AUS) | England | 1 Jan 1937 | 30 Nov 1928 | 8y 32d | 31 | 48 |
| Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG) | Australia | 10 Feb 1933 | 14 Jun 1924 | 8y 241d | 43 | 68 |
| Everton Weekes (WI) | England | 25 Jul 1957 | 21 Jan 1948 | 9y 185d | 42 | 71 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | Australia | 2 Jan 1982 | 22 Nov 1974 | 7y 41d | 46 | 71 |
| Jack Hobbs (ENG) | Australia | 26 Jun 1926 | 1 Jan 1908 | 18y 176d | 45 | 75 |
| Wally Hammond (ENG) | West Indies | 8 Jan 1935 | 24 Dec 1927 | 7y 15d | 47 | 76 |
| Brain Lara (WI) | Sri Lanka | 20 Jun 1997 | 26 Jun 1937 | 6y 196d | 45 | 76 |
| Leonard Hutton (ENG) | West Indies | 12 Aug 1950 | 30 Mar 1954 | 13y 47d | 44 | 77 |
| Gary Sobers (WI) | England | 25 Jul 1963 | 4 Mar 1994 | 9y 117d | 46 | 77 |
| Mathew Hayden (AUS) | Zimbabwe | 17 Oct 2003 | 3 Nov 2001 | 9y 227d | 46 | 77 |