(27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)
Sunil Gavaskar led the charge in the 1970s with a tremendous series in the West Indies, 774 runs in four Test matches, including a double century and century in the same Test. He never looked back, becoming the first to scale the Everest of 10,000 Test runs, earlier going past the inimitable Don Bradman’s 35-year-old record of 29 hundreds, setting a new benchmark for Sachin Tendulkar to surpass.
Greg Chappell made his Test debut just before Gavaskar, an upright, elegant player who overhauled Bradman’s Australian record aggregate of 6996 runs. The supercilious marauder Vivian Richards arrived a few years later, followed by the impish, street-smart Javed Mianded. The left-handed gritty fighter Allan Border followed suit, and went on to top Gavaskar’s aggregate, becoming the first to post 11,000 Test runs. Meanwhile, the copybook opener Geoff Boycott carried over his broad blade from the 1960s. All of them scored over 5000 Test runs and averaged above 50 in this golden age of the 1970s and 1980s.
Two other Australians, Ian Redpath and Dean Jones, averaged over 50, hitting up more than 2500 Test runs. Even in the evening of his brilliant career, the great Gary Sobers crashed 1256 runs in 17 Tests in the 1970s, at an average of 52.33 with a highest of 178 not out with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties. Two openers Charlie Davis of the West Indies, and Mark Taylor of Australia, averaged in the mid-60s while notching up over 1000 runs. Davis averaged 66.56 for his 1065 runs, and Taylor averaged 64.72 as he scored 1618 runs.
David Gower, Gordon Greenidge, Dilip Vengsarkar, Clive Lloyd, Gundappa Viswanath, Desmond Haynes, Ian Botham and Zaheer Abbas crafted over 5000 runs in this period. All of them averaged in the 40s, except allrounder Botham who scored 34.35 runs per innings. Several other batsmen scored over 2000 runs and averaged above 40.
Top Rungetters (minimum 5000
runs)
Sunil
Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score
236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45
Allan
Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score
205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48
Vivian
Richards (West Indies), Tests 111,
Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38
Javed
Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score
280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38
David
Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score
215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37
Gordon
Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100,
Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34
Greg
Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score
247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31
Dilip
Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score
166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32
Clive
Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score
242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34
Gundappa
Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score
222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33
Desmond
Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score
184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31
Geoff
Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score
191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29
Ian
Botham (England), Tests 97, Highest Score
208, Runs 5119, Average 34.35, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22
Zaheer
Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score
274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20
Best Averages (minimum 2000
runs and average of 50 and above)
Javed
Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score
280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38
Greg
Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score
247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31
Allan
Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score
205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48
Dean
Jones (Australia), Tests 34, Highest Score
216, Runs 2637, Average 51.70, Hundreds 9, Fifties 9
Vivian
Richards (West Indies), Tests 111,
Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38
Sunil
Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score
236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45
Ian
Redpath (Australia), Tests 29, Highest Score
171, Runs 2578, Average 50.54, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15
Geoff
Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score
191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29
Best Averages (minimum 1000
runs but below 2000 runs, and average of 50 and above)
Charlie
Davis (West Indies), Tests 11, Highest Score
183, Runs 1065, Average 66.56, Hundreds 3, Fifties 4
Mark
Taylor (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 219,
Runs 1618, Average 64.72, Hundreds 6, Fifties 8
Gary
Sobers (West Indies), Tests 17, Highest Score 178*,
Runs 1256, Average 52.33, Hundreds 5, Fifties 4
Best Averages (minimum 2000
runs and average of 40 and above, but below 50)
Dennis
Amiss (England), Tests 45, Highest Score
262*, Runs 3487, Average 49.11, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11
Mohammad
Azharuddin (India), Tests 37, Highest Score
199, Runs 2527, Average 48.59, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9
Clive
Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score
242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34
Glenn
Turner (New Zealand), Tests 32, Highest Score
259, Runs 2441, Average 47.86, Hundreds 6, Fifties 11
Ian
Chappell (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score
196, Runs 3578, Average 47.07, Hundreds 10, Fifties 18
Richie
Richardson (West Indies), Tests 49,
Highest Score 194, Runs 3515, Average 46.25, Hundreds 10, Fifties 13
Gordon
Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100,
Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34
Roy
Fredericks (West Indies), Tests 49,
Highest Score 169, Runs 3809, Average 45.89, Hundreds 8, Fifties 22
Martin
Crowe (New Zealand), Tests 48, Highest Score
188, Runs 3288, Average 45.66, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11
Zaheer
Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score
274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20
Alvin
Kallicharran (West Indies), Tests 66,
Highest Score 187, Runs 4399, Average 44.43, Hundreds 12, Fifties 21
Dilip
Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score
166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32
Lawrence
Rowe (West Indies), Tests 30, Highest Score
302, Runs 2047, Average 43.55, Hundreds 7, Fifties 7
David
Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score
215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37
Mohinder
Amarnath (India), Tests 68, Highest Score
138, Runs 4362, Average 42.76, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24
Doug
Walters (Australia), Tests 49, Highest Score
250, Runs 3107, Average 42.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19
Asif
Iqbal (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score
175, Runs 2703, Average 42.23, Hundreds 10, Fifties 7
Mushtaq
Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 35, Highest Score
201, Runs 2449, Average 42.22, Hundreds 8, Fifties 12
Desmond
Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score
184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31
Salim
Malik (Pakistan), Tests 57, Highest Score
119*, Runs 2718, Average 41.81, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15
Gundappa
Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score
222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33
Majid
Khan (Pakistan), Tests 53, Highest Score
167, Runs 3584, Average 41.19, Hundreds 8, Fifties 17
Keith
Fletcher (England), Tests 53, Highest Score
216, Runs 3045, Average 41.14, Hundreds 7, Fifties 18
Graham
Yallop (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score
268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9
John
Edrich (England), Tests 37, Highest Score
175, Runs 2427, Average 41.13, Hundreds 4, Fifties 14
Tony
Greig (England), Tests 58, Highest Score
148, Runs 3599, Average 40.43, Hundreds 8, Fifties 20
Full Career of those who also played in eras before or after
Allan
Border (Australia, 1978-94), Tests 156,
Highest Score 205, Runs 11174, Average 50.56, Hundreds 27, Fifties 63
Graham
Gooch (England, 1975-95), Tests 118,
Highest Score 333, Runs 8900, Average 42.58, Hundreds 20, Fifties 46
Javed
Miandad (Pakistan, 1976-93), Tests 124,
Highest Score 280*, Runs 8832, Average 52.57, Hundreds 23, Fifties 43
Vivian
Richards (West Indies, 1975-91), Tests 121,
Highest Score 291, Runs 8540, Average 50.23, Hundreds 24, Fifties 45
David
Gower (England, 1978-92), Tests 117, Highest
Score 215, Runs 8231, Average 44.25, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39
Geoff
Boycott (England, 1964-82), Tests 108,
Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42
Gary
Sobers (West Indies, 1954-74), Tests 93,
Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30
Gordon
Greenidge (West Indies, 1974-91), Tests 108,
Highest Score 226, Runs 7558, Average 44.72, Hundreds 19, Fifties 34
Mark
Taylor (Australia, 1989-99), Tests 104,
Highest Score 186, Runs 7525, Average 43.49, Hundreds 19, Fifties 40
Clive
Lloyd (West Indies, 1966-85), Tests 110,
Highest Score 242*, Runs 7515, Average 46.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 39
Desmond
Haynes (West Indies, 1978-94), Tests 116,
Highest Score 184, Runs 7487, Average 42.29, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39
David
Boon (Australia, 1984-96), Tests 107,
Highest Score 200, Runs 7422, Average 43.65, Hundreds 21, Fifties 32
Dilip
Vengsarkar (India, 1976-92), Tests 116,
Highest Score 166, Runs 6868, Average 42.13, Hundreds 17, Fifties 35
Rohan
Kanhai (West Indies, 1957-74), Tests 79,
Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28
Mohammad
Azharuddin (India, 1984-2000), Tests 99,
Highest Score 199, Runs 6215, Average 45.03, Hundreds 22 Fifties 21
Gundappa
Viswanath (India, 1969-83), Tests 91, Highest
Score 222, Runs 6080, Average 41.93, Hundreds 14, Fifties 35
Richie
Richardson (West Indies, 1983-95), Tests 86,
Highest Score 194, Runs 5949, Average 44.39, Hundreds 16, Fifties 27
Salim
Malik (Pakistan, 1982-99), Tests 103,
Highest Score 237, Runs 5768, Average 43.69, Hundreds 15, Fifties 29
Martin
Crowe (New Zealand, 1982-95), Tests 77,
Highest Score 299, Runs 5444, Average 45.36, Hundreds 17, Fifties 18
Doug
Walters (Australia, 1965-81), Tests 74,
Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33
Ian
Chappell (Australia, 1964-80), Tests 75,
Highest Score 196, Runs 5345, Average 42.42, Hundreds 14, Fifties 26
Ian
Botham (England, 1977-92), Tests 102,
Highest Score 208, Runs 5200, Average 33.54, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22
John
Edrich (England, 1963-76), Tests 77,
Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24
Zaheer
Abbas (Pakistan, 1969-85), Tests 78,
Highest Score 274, Runs 5062, Average 44.79, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20
Ian
Redpath (Australia, 1964-76), Tests 66,
Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31
Mohinder
Amarnath (India, 1969-88), Tests 69,
Highest Score 138, Runs 4378, Average 42.50, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24
Roy
Fredericks (West Indies, 1968-77, Tests 59,
Highest Score 169, Runs 4334, Average 42.49, Hundreds 8, Fifties 26
Majid
Khan (Pakistan, 1964-83), Tests 63,
Highest Score 167, Runs 3931, Average 38.92, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19
Mushtaq
Mohammad (Pakistan, 1959-79), Tests 57,
Highest Score 201, Runs 3643, Average 39.17, Hundreds 10, Fifties 19
Dean
Jones (Australia, 1984-92), Tests 52,
Highest Score 216, Runs 3631, Average 46.55, Hundreds 11, Fifties 14
Dennis
Amiss (England, 1966-77), Tests 50,
Highest Score 262*, Runs 3612, Average 46.30, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11
Asif
Iqbal (Pakistan, 1964-80), Tests 58,
Highest Score 175, Runs 3575, Average 38.85, Hundreds 11, Fifties 12
Keith
Fletcher (England, 1968-82), Tests 59,
Highest Score 216, Runs 3272, Average 39.90, Hundreds 7, Fifties 19
Glenn Turner (New Zealand, 1969-83), Tests 41, Highest Score 259, Runs 2991, Average 44.64, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14
Graham Yallop (Australia, 1976-84), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9
