Mushfiqur Rahim unjustifiably unnoticed among Test cricket’s highest run-scorers – the time is now to sing his praises

As Bangladesh get the latest cycle of the World Test Championship underway with an away trip to Sri Lanka, it makes for interesting reading to see which players have scored the most Test runs for the Asian newcomers.

Unlike more established nations like India and Pakistan, Bangladesh have only been playing Tests since 2000 (their first was against India in November 2000), which means just 25 years of Test history.

Despite that relatively short timeline, Bangladesh have produced several high-class performers – gritty stroke-makers, middle-order stalwarts, and multi-dimensional all-rounders. Who have been their outstanding performers over the years?

In total, 10 players have passed the 2000-run mark for the Tigers in Test cricket – let’s see who they are:

10. Najmul Hossain Shanto (2017-2025): 2,025 Test runs for Bangladesh

Once regarded as a player with more potential than production, Najmul Hossain Shanto has grown into a dependable figure in Bangladesh’s top order. With a technically sound approach and the ability to occupy the crease, Shanto has been a key contributor in recent years.

His tally of over 2,000 Test runs highlights his rise in consistency, particularly between 2022 and 2024, when he notched several match-defining hundreds. At just 26, he should still climb much higher on this list, as his century in the first Test against Bangladesh suggests.

9. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2016-2025): 2,068 Test runs for Bangladesh

Primarily known for his off-spin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has also become a useful lower-order batter, often stepping up in times of crisis. With nearly 2,100 runs at an average above 24 – impressive for a player batting at No. 7 or below – Mehidy has provided many crucial contributions, including resilient half-centuries and fighting stands.

His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him one of the most valuable multi-role players Bangladesh have had in Tests. He has twice reached three figures in Tests.

8. Mohammad Ashraful (2001-2013): 2,737 Test runs for Bangladesh

A prodigy who made headlines with a century on debut at just 17, Mohammad Ashraful was one of the earliest poster boys of Bangladesh cricket. Mercurial, stylish, and infuriatingly inconsistent, Ashraful had all the talent but rarely the temperament to match.

Still, his tally of 2,737 runs, including centuries against Sri Lanka, Australia, and South Africa, made him one of Bangladesh’s mainstays through the tough early years at the start of their Test journey. His international career ended in disappointment, but his contributions remain significant.

7. Litton Das (2015-2025): 2,788 Test runs for Bangladesh

Elegant, wristy, and increasingly reliable, Litton Das has been one of Bangladesh’s brightest batting talents of the past decade. Initially inconsistent, he matured into a technically refined batter capable of anchoring innings or shifting gears when needed.

His average of 34.00 reflects growing consistency, and he’s been one of Bangladesh’s best players in away conditions, particularly in New Zealand and South Africa. As the team evolves, Litton remains a central figure in Bangladesh’s batting unit.

Also read: Prabath Jayasuriya climbing this top 9 list at a rapid rate – the Sri Lankan spinner will be in the top 5 soon enough

6. Mohammad Mahmudullah (2009-2021): 2,914 Test runs for Bangladesh

Often underrated in the longest format, Mahmudullah quietly amassed close to 3,000 runs in Tests with a solid average of 33.49. Known for his calm presence under pressure, he produced some memorable innings, including a match-saving century in New Zealand and a double-hundred against Zimbabwe in what turned out to be his farewell Test.

His decision to retire from Tests in 2021 surprised many, but his legacy as a crisis man and a dependable middle-order contributor remains intact.

5. Habibul Bashar (2000-2008): 3,026 Test runs for Bangladesh

The original batting stalwart of Bangladesh’s Test team, Habibul Bashar carried the side through its formative years. With his gritty technique and appetite for long innings, Bashar notched up 3,026 runs at a time when victories were rare and team totals often modest.

He captained the side through some of its earliest milestones and is remembered fondly as a pioneer who laid the foundation for those who followed. His role in normalising competitiveness in Tests was vital.

4. Mominul Haque (2013-2025): 4,577 Test runs for Bangladesh

The most prolific Test specialist in Bangladesh history, Mominul Haque thrived particularly on home soil. A compact left-hander, he’s produced 13 Test centuries and has anchored the middle order for more than a decade. Mominul’s calm temperament and ability to bat for long periods made him a natural fit for Test cricket.

His average of 37.21 is among the best in the country’s history, and he briefly captained the side as well, including leading them to a famous win in New Zealand – in a game that saw him score 101 runs while being dismissed just once.

3. Shakib Al Hasan (2007-2024): 4,609 Test runs for Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounder and arguably their finest cricketer across all formats, Shakib Al Hasan was a titan in Tests and white-ball cricket alike. With over 4,600 runs and 200+ wickets, he joined the elite group of Test all-rounders alongside the likes of Jacques Kallis and Ian Botham.

Shakib’s ability to adapt, whether grinding it out or counterattacking, made him a game-changer. His best came in pressure situations, including away tours in the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Though he retired from Tests in 2024, his impact remains profound.

2. Tamim Iqbal (2008-2023): 5,134 Test runs for Bangladesh

A flamboyant opener with audacious stroke-play, Tamim Iqbal is Bangladesh’s most successful Test opener by some margin. His bold hundreds in England, New Zealand, and the Caribbean are part of Test folklore.

Tamim’s fearless batting style often gave Bangladesh fast starts, and his appetite for runs saw him notch 10 centuries and 31 fifties. His average of 38.89, the highest among the top five, and over 5,000 runs make him one of the true greats of Bangladeshi cricket.

1. Mushfiqur Rahim (2005-2025): 6,160 Test runs for Bangladesh

Sitting atop the pile is Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s most accomplished Test batsman. With over 6,000 runs and a career stretching 20 years, he has been the heartbeat of the team through various generations.

Equally adept at playing the long innings and adapting to different match situations, Mushfiqur has scored double hundreds, batted with the tail, and often fought lone battles. A former captain, and once the team’s wicketkeeper, his mental toughness and technical adaptability stand out.

His place at the summit is fitting for a player who gave everything for the red and green. Still going strong at 38-years-old, Mushfiqur bagged another ton in the opening game of the series against Sri Lanka.

Read next: Will Blessing Muzarabani overtake Heath Streak as Zimbabwe’s top wicket-taker in Tests? The stats show it’s just a matter of time

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Will Blessing Muzarabani overtake Heath Streak as Zimbabwe’s top wicket-taker in Tests? The stats show it’s just a matter of time

Zimbabwe has never been one of those countries that produces superstar bowlers.

However, what they have done better than most countries is generate pacers and spinners who continually nag at a good length until they get results for their team.

Below, we highlight Zimbabwe’s highest wicket-takers in Tests.

9. Guy Whittall, 51 wickets.

Whittall did not bowl much, but when he did, he got results for Zimbabwe. He made up for his lack of lethal pace with good control and moving the ball in the air and off the surface. The combination made him an economical bowler with a knack for taking important wickets.

Whittall produced his best performance in December 1996, when he bagged his second of three four-wicket hauls against England. He took 4/18 as he helped his side clinch a draw. He finished his nine-year Test career with 51 wickets in 52 innings.

8. Andy Blignaut, 53 wickets

Zimbabwe has had numerous players whose international careers came to an end before they reached their peak. Andy Blignaut is one such player. He spent a tumultuous time under the employment of Zimbabwe Cricket. His on-field performances were hampered by perpetual disputes between players and administrators over numerous issues that included payments.

The batting all-rounder debuted in 2001 and left the international arena in 2005. In that period, he took 53 wickets in 30 innings. He bagged three five-wicket hauls and produced his best bowling innings in his maiden Test appearance, bagging 5/73 against Bangladesh.

His final Test was Zimbabwe’s last for the next six years. Things had gotten so bad that the country couldn’t sustain first-class cricket.

Andy Blignaut finished his career with 53 wickets in 30 innings, 53 wickets.

7. Blessing Muzarabani, 54 wickets

Muzarabani is arguably Zimbabwe’s all-time best pacer. The 28-year-old was given his first big break by former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, who signed him to his Rising Stars club and took him on a five-match tour to the UK in 2017. Muzarabani impressed so much that it wasn’t long before he was drafted into the national team.

Muzarabani took a break from international cricket when he signed a Kolpak contract with Nottinghamshire. His stay with the county was cut short by Brexit. When he returned to Zimbabwe, he picked up from where he had left off, almost single-handedly carrying the Zimbabwe bowling attack on his back.

His average of 23.27 is the best of any Zimbabwean bowler with 10 or more Test wickets. He has taken 54 wickets in 20 innings, with three five-wicket hauls to his name.

6. Bryan Strang, 56 wickets

According to legend, Strang was once called the most boring bowler who grew frustrated by the left-arm medium pacer’s deliveries. Strang stuck to a line on off-stump with his military medium pacers.

Strang produced his best performance with the ball when he bagged 5/101 against South Africa in October 1995. That was his one and only five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Strang did not have a long international career because of his frequent clashes with administrators, who then barred him from representing Zimbabwe on political grounds.

He took 56 wickets in 44 innings in his six-year-long Test career.

5. Graeme Cremer, 57 wickets

Cremer produced one of the best performances by a Zimbabwean bowler when he bagged nine wickets in a one-off Test against Sri Lanka in 2017. He recorded his best bowling figures in an innings, 5/125, and his best bowling figures in a match, 9/275, in that encounter.

His international career was in two parts. He played six Tests in 2005, which were followed by a seven-year drought because Zimbabwe wasn’t playing Test cricket. He picked up international cricket again from 2012 to 2017. The former Zimbabwe captain finished with 57 wickets in 27 innings, with a single five-wicket haul to his name.

4. Henry Olonga, 68 wickets

Henry Olonga broke the colour barrier for Zimbabwe. He was the first black cricketer to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket. Then he also became the first black cricketer to speak out against Robert Mugabe’s government in 2003, when he and Andy Flower staged a protest during the 2003 World Cup. That move ended his international career.

Olonga burst onto the international scene as a tearaway fast bowler, then he was reported for throwing. He rebuilt his action from the ground up, but was never as fast as before. Olonga made his mark when he dismissed Nayan Monga, Navjot Sidhu, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and Robin Singh to record his maiden five-wicket haul in 1998.

He finished that match with his best bowling figures in a match, 5/70. He registered his second five-wicket haul four years later when he bagged 5/93 against Pakistan. Olonga took 68 wickets in 47 innings during his seven-year international career.

3 Paul Strang, 70 wickets

Strang produced his finest Test cricket performance when he recorded a match double of a century and a five-wicket haul in a single Test against Pakistan in 1998. Strang used his repertoire of deliveries: regular legbreaks, googlies, topspinners and flippers, to bag 5/212. The five-wicket haul came on the back of an unbeaten 106 in Zimbabwe’s first innings.

Strang could have gone on to claim more victims had his career not been cut short by a chronic muscular injury in his bowling hand. He played from 1994 to 2001 and claimed 70 wickets in 38 innings. He was one of only three Zimbabwean bowlers with a five-wicket haul to their name; the other two are Ray Price and Adam Huckle.

2. Ray Price, 80 wickets

Price picked up the baton from Paul Strang and went on to become Zimbabwe’s most successful spinner. The left-arm spinner had a knack for taking five-wicket hauls in clumps. He bagged two consecutive five-wicket hauls in 2001 and 2002 against India and South Africa.

Then in 2003, he took three five-wicket hauls in a row against Australia and the West Indies in an outstanding run of Test cricket form. Price featured for Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2013, with a hiatus between 2005 and 2011 when Zimbabwe did not play Test cricket. He took 80 wickets in 35 innings, with five five-wicket hauls to his name.

1. Heath Streak, 216 wickets

Heath Streak might be the second-best cricketer Zimbabwe has produced, marginally trailing the incredible Andy Flower. The all-rounder gave his all for his nation as a player and then as a coach after his retirement.

Streak announced himself to the world with a five-wicket haul in his second Test match in December 1993. He was 19 at the time. He took six more five-wicket hauls over the next 12 years on his way to becoming Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker with a tally of 216 wickets in 102 innings. He is one of four Zimbabwean bowlers with 30 or more Test wickets with an average below 30. He averaged 28.14.

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Herschelle Gibbs: You can’t compare Australia’s current bowling attack with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee

Herschelle Gibbs is South Africa’s sixth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket. He scored 14 Test centuries between 1996 and 2008.

Three were against England and three against the West Indies. Gibbs’ only Test century against Australia came at Kingsmead in Durban in 2002, when the opposition bowling attack comprise fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee – and leg-spinner Shane Warne. Warne, McGrath, Lee and Gillespie shared 1,840 Test wickets.

Australia’s bowling attack for the World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa earlier this month included fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc – and Nathan Lyon. Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon have shared 1,522 Test wickets.

“I will put my head on the block and say you obviously can’t really compare this bowling attack with when Australia had Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee. The four of them together almost took 2,000 Test wickets. Australia had teams led by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting – you won’t see the likes of those teams again. It was a privilege to play against those great Australians,” Gibbs told Cricket365, via 10bet.

Victory over Australia at Lord’s brought South Africa’s first International Cricket Council title since winning the Champions Trophy in 1998. They have lost five Champions Trophy semi-finals and five Cricket World Cup semi-finals. Last year, South Africa lost the T20 World Cup final.

“Winning this one-off World Test Championship final probably isn’t as big as winning a World Cup. It can’t be because a World Cup is a World Cup. The World Cup happens ever four years, while the WTC is over a two-year cycle. Winning a World Cup would be really special. We have obviously come close, but we are not there yet. That’s all I wanted when I played – to win a World Cup,” added Gibbs.

Also read: Nathan Lyon vs Shane Warne, Stuart Broad vs James Anderson, Ravichandran Ashwin vs Anil Kumble – who was fastest to 500 Test wickets?

“And things have changed since – Graeme Smith, remember, held the Test mace. Years down the line, being number one back then has evolved into needing to win the World Test Championship final now. We have effectively reclaimed the mace.  It is a fantastic win for the lads and hopefully it will lead to them getting more Test cricket in the future. You can’t have so many nations playing so few Tests over long periods.”

Gibbs praised captain Temba Bavuma, who was among South Africa’s leading run-scorers in Test cricket in 2023 and 2024 – and hit 36 and 66 in last week’s five-wicket win over Australia. Bavuma has collected four centuries in 110 Test innings. He has never lost a Test as captain. He has won nine and drawn one.

“He has done the hard yards over the last three years or so. I must give him credit. He has been a lot more consistent than he was in previous years. I must give credit where it is due,” concluded Gibbs.

“Top-order batsmen need to score centuries – that’s the benchmark with regards to how good you really are. My opinion on that won’t change. But, like I said, Temba has led by example with important runs  – I will give him that. He has been our leading run-scorer in Test cricket and I have to give him credit for that, definitely.

“As a captain, he has used what he has over the last few years really well. His decision, at times, has been fine. A lot of time he has made a change and it has worked. His reading of the game has been pretty good. He must definitely get credit for that.”

Gibbs spoke to Cricket365 on behalf of 10bet. For further information, visit: https://ift.tt/Vl1DWR5.

Read next: Which 7 bowlers reached 50 Test wickets the fastest among left-arm seamers? Top spot isn’t as predictable as you’d think

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Listing every full or format retirement in international cricket in 2025 – Angelo Mathews is the next to go

The year is barely halfway through, and we have already witnessed a wave of high-profile retirements.

Some of the most celebrated names in modern cricket have left the international stage.

Here’s our list tracking these recently retired players and celebrating their contributions to the game.

1. Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)

Retirement: All internationals – June 9, 2025

At just 29, Pooran stunned fans by announcing his retirement from all international cricket.

T20Is: 106 matches, 2,275 runs at a strike rate of over 145, 149 sixes

West Indies’ highest T20I run scorer, ahead of Chris Gayle.

ODIs: 61 matches, 1,782 runs, including 3 centuries

Captained the West Indies in white-ball formats and was a key figure during their T20 rebuilding phase.

His early exit reflects the shift toward franchise cricket, where he continues to thrive as MI New York captain in Major League Cricket and a valuable IPL asset.

2. Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)

Retirement: ODI & T20I – June 2, 2025 (Test career ended in 2024)

Known for his brutal power-hitting and clean glove work, Klaasen was among South Africa’s premier white-ball finishers.

ODIs: 60 matches, 1,638 runs at 41.97, strike rate of 117.

T20Is: 58 matches, 1,153 runs, strike rate 147

He played a pivotal role in SA’s rise in T20 cricket and will now continue in leagues worldwide, notably the IPL and SA20.

3. Steven Smith (Australia)

Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025

One of the modern game’s batting greats, Smith ended his ODI career after a decade of excellence.

ODIs: 170 matches, 5,800 runs at 43.28, 12 centuries

Played key roles in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 World Cup campaigns

Smith continues to play in Tests, where he remains among the top 10 all-time run-scorers for Australia.

4. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025

Maxwell, who is known for his showmanship and for redefining the role of a finisher, retired from ODIs shortly after the 2025 Champions Trophy.

ODIs: 149 matches, 3,990 runs at a strike rate over 125, 77 wickets

Produced one of ODI cricket’s greatest innings with a 201* vs Afghanistan in 2023

His explosive style and off-spin continue to make him a T20 asset globally.

5. Marcus Stoinis (Australia)

Retirement: ODI cricket – 2025

The muscular all-rounder was integral to Australia’s white-ball setup through the 2020s playing key roles with both bat and ball.

ODIs: 71 matches, 1,495 runs, 48 wickets

Key figure in Australia’s 2023 World Cup win, especially with his ability to break partnerships and accelerate late in innings

He remains active in T20 leagues including the BBL, IPL, SA20 and ILT20.

6. Virat Kohli (India)

Retirement: Test cricket – May 12, 2025

Kohli, one of the greatest batters of the 21st century, ended a monumental Test career just short of 10,000 runs.

Tests: 113 matches, 9,202 runs at 49.30, 29 centuries

Captained India in 68 Tests, with a win percentage of nearly 59%

His intensity and passion redefined India’s red-ball identity, especially overseas.

7. Rohit Sharma (India)

Retirement: Test cricket – 2025

India’s charismatic opener and Test captain called time after guiding a transitional team through tough WTC cycles.

Tests: 61 matches, 4,173 runs at 45.06, 12 centuries

Excelled at home and abroad following his post-2019 reinvention as an opener

Also captained India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and 2024 T20 World Cup win, cementing his leadership legacy.

8. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)

Retirement: All formats – February 2025

One of Sri Lanka’s most dependable red-ball openers retired after reaching the milestone of 100 Tests.

Tests: 100 matches, 7,172 runs at 39.27, 14 centuries

Captained Sri Lanka from 2019–2023, including an away series win in South Africa.

Karunaratne’s gritty, old-school style earned him comparisons to Mahela Jayawardene and Upal Tharanga in temperament and poise.

9. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Retirement: All formats – January 8, 2025

One of the Black Caps’ most successful white-ball batters, Guptill’s final act closed a glorious chapter.

ODIs: 198 matches, 7,346 runs at 41.73, 18 centuries

Scored a World Cup-record 237* vs West Indies in 2015

Played 122 T20Is, amassing over 3,500 runs

His clean striking and consistency made him a fan-favourite across formats.

10. Wriddhiman Saha (India)

Retirement: All formats – 2025

India’s long-serving red-ball wicketkeeper finally bid adieu after years of service behind MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant.

Tests: 40 matches, 1,353 runs at 29.41, 6 fifties

Known for superb glove work, especially on turning tracks

A mentor figure in recent years, Saha is likely to stay connected to Indian cricket through coaching or IPL roles.

11. Piyush Chawla (India)

Retirement: All formats – 2025

A veteran leg-spinner and part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squads.

ODIs: 25 wickets in 21 matches

Tests: 3 matches, best figures 4/69

Though he never nailed down a long-term international spot, Chawla was prolific in domestic cricket and key in the IPL for CSK, KKR, and MI.

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Who are the only 2 left-arm seamers and 1 off-spinner among these 11 bowlers to reach 300 ODI wickets the fastest?

Three hundred wickets in ODI cricket is not an easy feat to achieve.

According to our statistical analysis, only 14 batters have reached the milestone since the inception of the format.

Below, we look at the cricketers who took the least number of matches to get to the landmark.

11. Chaminda Vaas – 235 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Vaas was the most incisive bowler Sri Lanka produced in 50-over cricket. The left-arm seamer finished his career with exactly 400 ODI wickets. The Sri Lanka star underlined his credentials by taking his 300th ODI wicket in style.

His 300th scalp was one of four wickets he bagged while facing Zimbabwe in Harare in August 2004. Vaas toppled Zimbabwe’s batting order, taking 4/11 in nine overs in his 235th ODI match on his way to 300.

10. Anil Kumble – 234 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Kumble took a single wicket on his debut. He dismissed the Sri Lankan lower-order batter, Uvais Karnain, in his maiden 50-over match in April 1990. He registered his 300th victim 12 years later, when he accounted for Marlon Samuels’ wicket. As in the beginning, Samuels was the only batter he dismissed in that match.

9. Shakib Al Hasan – 227 matches for 300 ODI wickets

No other player has been as influential for Bangladesh as Shakib. The all-rounder has single-handedly won matches for his country with bat or ball and sometimes with both. That is what he did on the day he took his 300th wicket; he scored an outstanding 75 off 71 balls and took a four-wicket haul against England in March 2023.

Shakib dismissed Rehan Ahmed in his 227th ODI match to reach the milestone.

8. Javagal Srinath – 219 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Many considered Srinath as one of India’s fastest bowlers when he arrived in international cricket. The seamer blew away batting lineups with his pace and was India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests at one point.

Srinath took more four-wicket hauls than he did five-wicket hauls in 50-over cricket. He finished his career with seven four-wicket hauls and only three five-fers. He took his 300th ODI wicket with one of his four-fers. The pacer took 4/30 against the Netherlands in 2003 to reach the milestone.

7. Shaun Pollock – 217 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the most prolific run-getters in ODIs, and to take his wicket to register a milestone should feel good for anyone. The Sri Lankan opener was Shaun Pollock’s 300th victim. The South African seamer dismissed Jayasuriya in his 217th match when South Africa crossed swords with Sri Lanka in 2004.

6. Wasim Akram – 209 matches for 300 ODI wickets

The Sultan of Swing, as Wasim Akram was known, pioneered the era of conventional and reverse swing. He was lethal with both the old and new ball. When he bagged his 300th wicket, Akram did the damage with the new ball. He pinned Dave Houghton lbw before the Zimbabwean could inflict damage with the bat.

The scalp came in October 1996, 11 years after Akram’s debut 50-over match.

5. Lasith Malinga – 203 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Malinga had a toe-crunching yorker, a deceptive slower ball, and a menacing bouncer. His round-arm action made his deliveries harder to read, and that added to his incisiveness as a bowler. The Sri Lankan retired as one of the most lethal bowlers in 50-over cricket.

However, despite all the skills in his armoury, his 300th wicket wasn’t from a particularly impressive delivery. It was full and wide, and was somehow good enough to get Virat Kohli to mistime his drive to a fielder. Milestone wickets don’t get better than Kohli. The wicket came in his 203rd match, when Sri Lanka faced India in 2017.

4. Muttiah Muralitharan – 202 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva stole the show with the bat when Sri Lanka faced England in Australia for the VB Series in 2003. Jayasuriya made a 100 and De Silva a half-century to set Sri Lanka up for victory.

After England came out to bat, Muralitharan toiled without reward for 9.1 overs. The legendary spinner eventually bagged his only wicket of the match with his 56th delivery of the day. He dismissed James Anderson in his 202nd ODI outing.

3. Glenn McGrath – 200 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Australia has produced some of the greatest fast bowlers ever in the game. One of them was Glenn McGrath, the best fast bowler of his era. The Australian went wicketless in his debut ODI match as a 23-year-old. Eleven years later, he was older, wiser, and more lethal.

In his 200th match, McGrath combined with Brett Lee to disrupt Pakistan’s top order. He dismissed the opener, Kamran Akmal, to mark his 299th wicket, and then became the eighth bowler to collect 300 when he accounted for Pakistan’s number three batter, Mohammad Hafeez. McGrath finished that match with 3/34. Naved-ul-Hasan was his third victim.

2. Waqar Younis – 186 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Younis and Wasim Akram created an incredible fast-bowling duo. The two pushed each other to be better. Younis’ prodigious late inswingers authored the downfall of many batters, both in Tests and ODI cricket. The pacer targeted the stumps more often than not, and that is how he dismissed his 300th victim.

Younis trapped Nell McKenzie lbw early in the innings when Pakistan crossed swords with South Africa in 2000. It was his 186th 50-over outing. He is one of two bowlers to reach the milestone in less than 200 ODI appearances.

1. Brett Lee – 171 matches for 300 ODI wickets

Eight years and 172 days. That is how long it took Brett Lee to reach 300 ODI wickets. The only thing faster than Lee to the milestone was his bowling. The Australian was an exponent of extreme speed and could reach 160kmh. He shook batters with vicious short balls and unplayable yorkers.

However, he didn’t reach the milestone with his trademark quick deliveries. Lee undid Daren Sammy with a slower ball that the West Indies lower-order batter misread and miscued to offer an easy catch, which Lee took himself in the mid-off region. The wicket came in Jun 2008, in Lee’s 171st ODI appearance.

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George Munsey rapidly climbing this top 9 list of leading ODI run-scorers for Scotland

Scotland’s journey in ODI cricket has been shaped by a core of impactful batters over the years, who have helped define the team’s identity.

George Munsey smashed a record score of 191 in one-day cricket for Scotland against the Netherlands in June, proof that the nation is becoming a more dangerous force in international cricket year on year.

Scotland has struck a perfect balance of big-boundary hitters to canny batters with the temperament to score against the best bowling attack in the world.

Landmarks like their new highest individual score are a reflection of how far they’ve come in bridging the gaps between the historically successful cricketing nations.

Scotland haven’t featured in an ICC ODI World Cup since 2015 but rank just five places below England in the ICC World Rankings, with their team performances well and truly on the up.

Let’s take a look at the 9 batters who have led the way with the most ODI runs for Scotland…

9. Preston Mommsen – 1,115 runs ODI runs for Scotland

Mommsen averaged 30.97 across 44 matches in his seven-year ODI career, with a highest score of 139 not out.

His two centuries, six fifties, and focus in the middle order from 2010 to 2017 underlined his reliability in important years of Scotland’s ODI revolution.

8. Brandon McMullen – 1,175 runs ODI runs for Scotland

McMullen averages 43.51, the highest of any batter on this list, and has already racked up four centuries since his debut in 2022.

A high score of 151 and a strike rate of 87.94 show his ability to play a role as either the aggressor or the anchor in Scotland’s ODI innings.

7. Gavin Hamilton – 1,231 runs in ODIs for Scotland

Hamilton scored at 35.17 across 38 innings, with two centuries and seven fifties for his nation between 1999 and 2010.

He high-scored with an impressive knock of 119 and was a bedrock for Scotland in finding early consistency in ODI cricket, hitting 95 fours and 11 sixes along the way. Hamilton was brutal and has a knack for punishing loose deliveries.

Also read: Nathan Lyon vs Shane Warne, Stuart Broad vs James Anderson, Ravichandran Ashwin vs Anil Kumble – who was fastest to 500 Test wickets?

6. Michael Leask – 1,535 runs ODI runs for Scotland

Leask is one of the most explosive batters on the list with a dominant strike rate of 113.53 as well as 68 sixes and 119 fours from his debut in 2014.

He has one century, eight fifties and an unbeaten top score of 107, frequently lifting Scotland late in their innings.

5. Matthew Cross – 2,215 runs ODI runs for Scotland

Cross has racked up 2215 runs at an average of 23.56 with a highest score of 114 and a strike rate of 71.79, and has featured in several positions in the batting order.

His ODI career started in 2014 with 11 fifties and two centuries to date.

4. George Munsey – 2,487 runs ODI runs for Scotland

Munsey made history with a stunning 191, Scotland’s highest ever ODI individual score, in 2025 against the Netherlands.

The knock only added to his already impressive credentials since his debut in 2017: a 42.87 average, strike rate of 89.10 and 73 sixes with three centuries and 16 fifties opening the batting.

3. Calum MacLeod – 3,026 runs ODI runs for Scotland

MacLeod combined a strong average with volume, scoring 10 centuries and 13 fifties from 2008 to 2o22 with a highest score of 175.

He could accelerate while playing long, meaningful innings across all phases of the 50-over game.

2. Kyle Coetzer – 3,192 runs ODI runs for Scotland

Coetzer was one of Scotland’s most consistent top-order players, averaging 38.92 with a memorable best innings of 156 against Bangladesh.

He’s racked up five hundreds, 21 fifties and 412 fours – the most by a batter in Scotland ODI history.

1. Richie Berrington – 3,536 runs in ODIs for Scotland

Scotland’s leading run-scorer in ODIs, Berrington, has averaged 33.35 in his long international career, which began in 2008.

Six centuries, 20 fifties and 127 against the UAE in 2023 highlight his credentials – but his 83 sixes place him as the leading maximum hitter in Scottish ODIs.

Read next: Which 7 bowlers reached 50 Test wickets the fastest among left-arm seamers? Top spot isn’t as predictable as you’d think

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Is the Lord’s slope cricket’s longest standing excuse? 7 facts to suggest it might be

Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is known as the ‘Home of Cricket’ and is arguably the most iconic cricket ground in the world.

It was opened in 1814 and is rich with history as home to the Marylebone Cricket Club, Middlesex CCC and of course England Cricket.

When we talk about Lord’s, memories of iconic Test cricket matches and its heritage come into our conversations.

But it’s the famous Lord’s ‘slope’ that draws great mystery with countless myths and tales about the impact of the storied gradient.

Cricket365 answers 7 frequently asked questions about the ‘slope’ as we debunk the myths and sort the facts from the fiction.

Here are 7 FAQs about the Lord’s slope.

1. What is the famous slope at Lord’s – and how steep is it?

When you hear commentators talk about the Lord’s slope at the Home of Cricket, they are referring to a distinguishable gradient running from the Pavilion end all the way to the Nursery end.

The slope drops around 2.5 metres (8″2) across the field of play, with the change in elevation being a unique feature of the ground since its inception.

2. Was the Lord’s slope intentional – or did they work with what they had?

The short answer is that the Lord’s slope was completely accidental.

The ground is historic, built over two centuries ago in 1814 on land in St John’s Wood, London – the land had a natural slope.

Instead of levelling the land, Thomas Lord worked with the terrain to create the cornerstones of the iconic pitch we see today.

3. Have they ever considered flattening the Lord’s slope?

While there have been debates looking into the benefits of a more modern playing field at the venue, there have been no serious proposals with the tradition and heritage of the venue universally appreciated.

The process of levelling the surface would require a serious rebuild and halt Test cricket at the ground for years.

Also read: Nathan Lyon vs Shane Warne, Stuart Broad vs James Anderson, Ravichandran Ashwin vs Anil Kumble – who was fastest to 500 Test wickets?

4. How do batters cope with the Lord’s slope?

Put simply, the pressure of Test cricket means they have little time to adapt and just have to get on with it while adjusting to the slope.

Many ask for a middle stump guard to counteract the subtle visual change the slope provides. Playing the ball late, under their eyes, as well as micro changes in their forward strides, all help mitigate its impact in England.

5. Does the Lord’s slope help or hinder bowlers?

While many believe it’s perfect for one bowler going down the hill and a struggle for the other coming up, bowlers gain advantages at both ends.

The angle from the Pavilion End can help the ball nip back fiercely into right-handers – a quirk India‘s Jasprit Bumrah always looks to benefit from.

While at the Nursery End, it tends to move away and offers a different challenge to the batters.

6. What about swing – does the Lord’s slope influence movement?

Again, many believe the Pavilion End offers more swing to the bowlers, but this isn’t always the case.

Swing is determined by the condition of the ball, weather and the bowler’s action.

The slope’s primary impact is actually seam movement off the pitch, with the slope making the bowlers’ natural angle even more severe with bigger deviation and bounce.

7. Is the Lord’s slope cricket’s longest standing excuse?

Tune into coverage of a Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground and it’s guaranteed to have regular references to the Lord’s slope.

Players often use the gradient as an excuse for misfields, overthrows and missed run-outs, with one commentator once claiming the slope ‘pulled’ a ball over the boundary.

Of course it didn’t.

Read next: Which 7 bowlers reached 50 Test wickets the fastest among left-arm seamers? Top spot isn’t as predictable as you’d think

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