SENA countries encompassing South Africa, New Zealand, England, and Australia, present challenging playing conditions. Their pitches are known for their bounce, pace, swing, and turn. For cricketers performing well and scoring runs under such challenging circumstances is the ultimate aspiration. Henceforth. I present to you the top 10 most successful batters in the SENA countries:
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is an esteemed former cricketer hailing from India. As a right-handed batsman, he is widely hailed as the epitome of batting excellence in world cricket. Tendulkar has an impressive record of achieving 100 centuries throughout his career. Moreover, his average in Australia, New Zealand, and England surpasses over 50. In South Africa his average stands at a respectable 45.
2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is an illustrious former cricketer from Australia who is revered as one of the greatest batsmen ever to grace the sport. Across all SENA countries, Ponting boasts an average of 45 or above, his contribution to Australian cricket extends beyond his playing days as he currently serves as the head coach of Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
3. Steve Smith
Steve Smith represents Australia in international cricket and has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Smith’s test cricket average stands at an impressive 62. He initially drew attention as a leg spinner but later discovered his passion for batting, his recent century against India in the 2023 Test Championship exemplifies his prowess and tenacity at the crease.
4. Kumar Sangakkara
The former captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team is widely regarded as one of the finest players to have represented his country. Moreover, he is considered a formidable batsman when facing teams from SENA nations. Notably, he holds an impressive record of scoring four consecutive centuries in the 2015 ODI World Cup.
5. Virat Kohli
He is recognized as the finest modern-day batsman from India. With an impressive tally of 75 centuries, he has etched his name in cricketing history. Additionally, he had the honor of captaining the Indian cricket team. Considered by many as the premier ODI batsman of our time, he boasts an exceptional record in the T20 format.
6. Younis Khan
He was a renowned cricketer hailing from Pakistan, widely acknowledged as the country's finest in test match batting. With an impressive record of 34 centuries, he left an indelible mark in the world of Test cricket. Maintaining an average of 52 in tests, his prowess extends beyond domestic matches to excel on foreign turf, boasting a remarkable average exceeding 45 runs in countries forming the SENA alliance.
7. Brian Lara
He had once been a cricketer from the West Indies, and he held the distinction of being their most successful opening batsman. Notably, he remains the sole player to ever achieve a remarkable score of 400 runs in a single Test cricket inning. His extraordinary abilities were particularly showcased in SENA countries, where his record shines brightly.
8. Sourav Ganguly
He is an Indian cricketer, known for his left-handed batting and captaincy in tests and ODIs. With an impressive average of over 45 in SENA countries, he is recognized as the best Offside player. Notably, during India's victory over England in the 2003 NatWest Series, he created a memorable moment by removing his t-shirt from the Lord’s balcony.
9. Misbah-ul-Haq
He is a former cricketer from Pakistan. He served as a right-handed opener and captain for the national team. Known for his unwavering commitment, he consistently stood by Pakistan during challenging times. His remarkable records against SENA countries and an impressive test cricket average of 47 highlight his exceptional skills. Notably, he continued playing until the age of 43.
10. Mahela Jayawardene
The former captain of the Sri Lankan team was a prolific batter. He averages 44 in test cricket and 46 in SENA countries. He has played some crucial knocks for Sri Lanka, one of them being against India in the 2011 World Cup final, in which he scored a century.
