Batting at No. 7 in test cricket brings a lot of challenges. The middle order is responsible for finishing the innings on a positive note. Their major focus is to score more and more runs and give their bowlers enough runs to bowl. Batters like MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin, and Kapil Dev have all batted at No. 7 in test cricket and have been successful in doing so. In this article, we will tell our readers about the batters with the most runs at No. 7 in test cricket. This is an all-time list that includes the players of all test-playing nations.
1. Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist was a former left-handed wicketkeeper batter for Australia. Born in New South Wales in 1971, the southpaw made his test debut against Pakistan at the Gabba in 1999. Through the years, he developed himself into an aggressive lower-middle-order player in the test format. He scored 5570 runs in his test career at an average of 47.61. He was one of the best hitters on the ball in Australia. While batting at no. 7, the batter scored 3938 runs at an average of 46.45 in the longest format. Out of his seventeen test 100s, 12 came while batting at no. 7. The prolific Aussie wicketkeeper batter retired from test cricket in 2008.
2. Ian Healy
Ian Healy was a former right-handed batter for Australia. Born in 1964 in Queensland, the batter made his test debut against Pakistan in 1988. Considered one of the greatest wicketkeepers of the game, Healy was very energetic behind the stumps. In his 11-year-long career, the batter scored 4356 runs at an average of 27.40. While batting at No. 7, the batter scored 3041 runs and four centuries at an average of 27.56. He retired from test cricket in 1999.
3. Brad Haddin
Another wicketkeeper batter for Australia, Brad Haddin, was born in 1977 in New South Wales. The right-handed batter made his test debut against the West Indies in 2008 away from home. He was one of the finest wicketkeepers for Australia and an equally good middle-order batter. The player scored 3266 runs in his seven-year-long test career. While batting at No. 7, he scored 4 centuries and 3010 runs at an average of 38.10. He was an agile keeper and a perfect replacement for Adam Gilchrist. The player announced his retirement in 2015.
4. Rod Marsh
Rod Marsh was a former left-handed batter for Australia. Born in 1947 in Perth, the batter made his test debut against England in 1970. He was also a wicketkeeper with fine glovework and was a gem for the Aussies in the 1970s. He scored 3663 runs in his test career, of which 3009 came while batting at No. 7. The batter scored three 100s in his career, all in the No. 7 position, and had an average of 26.52 throughout his career in the test format. The wicketkeeper batter retired from test cricket in 1984.
5. Mark Boucher
One of the finest wicketkeepers for South Africa, Mark Boucher, was born in 1976. The right-handed batter made his test debut against Pakistan in 1997. He held the record for most dismissals in Test cricket as well as the highest score by a nightwatchman against Zimbabwe in 1999, when he scored 125. The prolific protea batter made 5515 runs in his test career, out of which 2939 came while batting at No. 7 in the longest format. He also scored a century at No. 7. Under the unfortunate circumstances of a ball hitting his eye in a practice game against England, the player had to retire in 2012.
6. MS Dhoni
Undoubtedly the best skipper for India, especially in the white-ball formats, MS Dhoni was born in Ranchi in 1981. He made his test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005 and became a regular inclusion as a wicketkeeper and lower-middle-order batter. He was a former skipper who was given the gift of hitting the ball sweetly yet hard. The player scored 4876 runs in his test career with six 100s. While batting at no. 7, the batter scored 2871 runs at an average of 30.53, including two 100s. He retired from test cricket in 2014.
7. Alan Knott
Alan Knott was a former right-handed batter for England. Born in 1946 in Kent, the batter made his test debut against Pakistan in 1967. He was also a wicketkeeper and was considered the finest by many. He scored 4389 runs in his test career, of which 2870 came while batting at No. 7 in the longest format. He also scored five 100s at an average of 41 while batting at no. 7. The player retired in 1981.
8. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev was the hero of the 1983 World Cup-winning team in England. The all-rounder made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1978. Born in Chandigarh in 1959, the right-arm fast-medium bowler and handy batter down the order was one of the best all-rounders for India. He scored 2861 runs while batting at No. 7 in the longest format, along with five 100s. He retired from test cricket in 1994 and remains one of the finest Indian skippers.
9. Matt Prior
He was a former wicketkeeper batter for England across formats. Born in Johannesburg in 1982, the player made his test debut against the West Indies in 2007 at the Lord’s. He scored 4099 runs in his test career, out of which 2787 came while batting lower down the order at no. 7. The wicketkeeper batter was skilled in both departments. He retired from test cricket in 2014 with seven 100s to his name and an average of 40.19.
10. Jeff Dujon
Jeff Dujon was a former right-handed batter for the West Indies. Born in 1956 in Jamaica, the batter made his test debut against Australia in 1981. He was also a fine wicketkeeper who scored 3322 runs in his 10-year-long career. The batter scored 2113 runs and four 100s at No. 7 with an average of 33.54. He retired from test cricket in 1991.
