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A year full of cricketing drama and engaging encounters has almost come to an end. 2024 turned out to be a fascinating year for the enjoyers of cricket's longest format. From veteran cricketers to breakout stars, this year gifted us some enriching performances to be recalled for a long.
In this special article, Sportz Point aims to cultivate those cricketers who have amassed the most Test runs in 2024.
1. Joe Root | 1556 runs
Joe Root recorded his second-best annual run tally in Tests, scoring 1556 runs in 17 matches in 2024. This is also the fifth time the England top-order batter has scored over a thousand Test runs in a calendar year; only one short of the great Sachin Tendulkar who has six.
The former England captain performed consistently for England throughout 2024; having registered six Test centuries and five half-centuries this year. His career-best score of 262 in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan helped him break the record of Alastair Cook, who previously held the record for most Test runs by an English cricketer.
Root also tops the list of active batters with the most Test tons with 36 centuries by his name. His impressive performances throughout 2024 also placed him with Rahul Dravid for the joint-fifth-highest tons in Test cricket's history.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal | 1478 runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as one of the most discussed breakout stars of Indian cricket in 2024. Having amassed 1478 runs across 15 Tests, Jaiswal has certainly cemented his place in the national Test team after an outstanding year.
The young Indian opener started the year with a gripping double-century in the third Test against England in Rajkot. An unbeaten 214 saw the 22-year-old batter record his career-best Test innings so far.
With three Test tons and nine half-centuries, Jaiswal has entered the globe of big names in test crickets in 2024. He also became the youngest Indian batter to reach 1000 Test runs in a calendar year during the second Test against New Zealand in October 2024.
With the most runs amongst Indian cricketers in 2024, Jaiswal also surpassed former Indian opener Virender Sehwag to become the Indian opener with the most Test runs in a calendar year.
3. Ben Duckett | 1149 runs
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The England veteran garnered 1149 Test runs in 17 innings for England in 2024, comprising two centuries and three half-centuries.
The 30-year-old England opener owned some brilliant records in 2024 as he notched up the fastest half-century in Tests by an England opener. Duckett smashed a blistering fifty off just 32 balls during England's second Test against West Indies in July 2024.
Duckett also reached the milestone of becoming the fastest batter to reach 2,000 Test runs in terms of balls bowled in the second Test against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024. By scoring a brilliant 114 off 129 balls, he completed his 2000 Test runs in just 2,293 balls while being the ultimate flagbearer of England's blistering 'Bazball' cricket.
4. Harry Brook | 1100 runs
Harry Brook has emerged as one of the most competent cricketers for England to showcase their quickfire brand of batting in Tests, which earned him 1100 Test runs across 12 Tests in 2024.
The 25-year-old batter scored four centuries and three half-centuries this year, at a remarkable strike rate of 87.04. However, Brook stormed into the headlines with his maiden triple-century in Tests against Pakistan in October 2024.
Brook recorded his career-best innings of 317 off 322 balls in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, helping England reach a mammoth total of 823 in the first innings. Noticeably, Brook scored 723 runs in 6 Tests while playing away from home, more than the same number of Tests he played in England in 2024.
5. Kamindu Mendis | 1049 runs
Kamindu Mendis enlisted himself as the sixth batsman to score more than 1000 runs in Tests across the year. The 26-year-old batter continued to be the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's middle-order, having garnered 1049 runs in only 9 Tests; studded with five tons and three half-centuries.
Mendis had an impressive batting average of 74.92 across nine Tests, more than any other batter who played more than two Tests during the calendar year.
However, Mendis marked his most notable achievement by becoming the joint-third fastest to score 1000 Test runs; matching Sir Don Bradman’s record of 13 innings to reach the milestone. He achieved this admirable record with an unbeaten innings of 182 off 250 deliveries which helped Sri Lanka win the second Test against New Zealand at Galle in September 2024.
The Sri Lankan batter also became the first cricketer in the 147 years of Test cricket's existence to hit a 50-plus score in all of his first eight Test matches. Mendis etched his name on the record books during the second Test against New Zealand by slamming his fifth half-century and eighth consecutive 50-plus score.
6. Kane Williamson | 1013 runs
Kane Williamson continued his domination with the willow in Tests, having accumulated 1013 runs across 9 matches in 2024.
The New Zealand veteran smashed a thousand runs in a calendar year after nine years since the first. His impressive stint in Tests was studded with 4 tons and 4 half-centuries while maintaining an average of 59.58. The 34-year-old opener for New Zealand clinched his 33rd Test century during the Test against England in Hamilton on 16 December.
Williamson brought up a brilliant knock of 156 off 204 deliveries in the second innings, becoming the third-fastest cricketer to register 33 centuries in Test cricket. Williamson reached this remarkable milestone in 186 innings, behind Ricky Ponting (178) and Sachin Tendulkar (183).
7. Ollie Pope | 994 runs
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Ollie Pope is another English batter in this list who broke the headlines, performing well for the formidable England Test side. The English wicketkeeper-batsman amassed 994 runs in 17 matches, studded with three centuries and four half-centuries.
Pope cracked the headlines as he achieved a unique record during the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval in September 2024. Pope became the first-ever cricketer to score his first seven Test centuries against different teams as he smashed an impressive unbeaten knock of 103 off 103 deliveries.
Sadly, the 26-year-old batter missed a double century by just four runs as he pulled off a knock of 196 runs off 278 deliveries against India in Hyderabad in January 2024.
8. Rachin Ravindra | 984 runs
Rachin Ravindra had a memorable year in Tests, garnering 984 runs across 12 matches in 2024. The 25-year-old had also hit two centuries and four half-centuries with an average of 42.78.
The biggest breakout star of the 2023 ODI World Cup acquired his personal best Test innings in February 2024, during the first Test of South Africa's tour of New Zealand. The left-handed batter scored a magnificent innings of 240 off 366 deliveries.
Rachin also became the first New Zealand cricketer to score a Test hundred on Indian soil after 2012, as he smashed 134 runs off 157 balls during the first Test in Bengaluru in October 2024.
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