5 New Zealand batters with most runs in international cricket ft. Kane Williamson
New Zealand is one of the most underrated sides in world cricket. They may not have won many ICC trophies but given the limited resources at their disposal, the Kiwis have put together some strong performances, both as a team and on an individual level.
New Zealand won their first ICC title in 2000 when they beat India in the final to lift the ICC KnockOut Trophy under Stephen Fleming's inspired leadership. They were also the inaugural winners of the World Test Championship (WTC), again beating India in the final in 2021.
The Kiwis were also sensational in the 2019 ODI World Cup played in England. They tied the final against the hosts in a nail-biting encounter at Lord's. New Zealand did not deserve to lose, but a bizarre boundary-count rule and a shocking umpiring blunder saw England crowned champions.
Over the years, New Zealand have produced some fantastic batters, who have enriched world cricket with their talent. In this feature, we look at the five Kiwi batters who have scored the most runs in international cricket.
#5 Martin Guptill
Former opener Martin Guptill ranks fifth on the list of New Zealand players with the most runs in international cricket. The aggressive right-handed batter featured in 367 matches (402 innings) across the three formats, scoring 13463 runs at an average of 35.90, with 23 hundreds and 76 fifties.
Guptill never quite got going in Test cricket. He still played 47 matches in the format, scoring 2586 runs at an average of 29.38, with three hundreds and 17 fifties. The 37-year-old had an excellent record in ODI cricket, amassing 7346 runs from 198 matches at an average of 41.73, with 18 tons and 39 half-centuries.
The former Kiwi opener's best of 237* against West Indies in Wellington in 2015 is a record for the highest individual score in the ODI World Cup. Guptill also featured in 122 T20Is, scoring 3531 runs, averaging 31.81 at a strike rate of 135.70, with two centuries and 20 fifties. He is fifth on the list of batters with most runs in T20Is.
#4 Brendon McCullum
Former captain Brendon McCullum is fourth on the list of New Zealand batters with the most runs in international cricket. The keeper-batter featured in 432 matches (474 innings) and totaled 14676 runs across the three formats, averaging 34.37, with 19 hundreds and 76 fifties.
McCullum played 101 Test matches and smashed 6453 runs at an average of 38.64, with 12 hundreds and 31 fifties. His best of 302 came against India in Wellington in February 2014. The marathon knock lasted 775 minutes in which McCullum struck 32 fours and four sixes.
The right-handed batter also featured in 260 ODIs, scoring 6083 runs at an average of 30.41, with five hundreds and 32 half-centuries. McCullum also possessed an impressive record in T20Is, scoring 2140 runs in 71 matches at an average of 35.66 and a strike rate of 136.21. The 42-year-old struck two hundreds and 13 half-centuries in his T20I career.
#3 Stephen Fleming
Another former captain, Fleming is in the top three on the list of Kiwi batters with the most runs in international cricket. Fleming played 396 international matches (463 innings) and notched up 15319 runs at an average of 35.46, with 17 centuries and 95 half-centuries.
Fleming featured in 111 Tests, scoring 7172 runs at an average of 40.06, with nine hundreds and 46 half-centuries. The left-hander's best of 274* was registered against Sri Lanka in Colombo in April 2003. He also starred with 262 against South Africa in Cape Town in April 2006.
The southpaw was part of 280 ODI matches in which he scored 8037 runs at an average of 32.40, with eight tons and 49 fifties. Fleming's best of 134* came against the Proteas in Johannesburg in the 2003 World Cup, a sublime knock in which he struck 21 fours. Fleming also played five T20Is, scoring 110 runs at a strike rate of 129.41, with a best of 38.
#2 Kane Williamson
Former captain Kane Williamson is second on the list of New Zealand batters to have scored the most runs in international cricket. He has so far featured in 358 matches (423 innings) across the three formats of the game and has amassed 18128 at an average of 48.21, with 45 hundreds and 97 half-centuries.
After exactly 100 Tests, Williamson has 8743 runs at an average of 54.98, with 32 hundreds and 34 fifties - a superb conversation rate. The ex-New Zealand captain's best of 251 came against West Indies in Hamilton in December 2020. He also scored 242* against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 2015.
The 34-year-old has played 165 ODIs and has notched up 6810 runs at an average of 48.64, with 13 tons and 45 half-centuries. If we look at his T20I career, Williamson has so far featured in 93 matches and has scored 2575 runs at an average of 33.44 and a strike rate of 123.08, with 18 fifties. His best of 95 came off just 48 balls against India in Hamilton in January 2020.
#1 Ross Taylor
Another former captain, Ross Taylor leads the list of New Zealand players to have scored the most runs in international cricket. He ended his career with exactly 450 matches (510 innings), amassing 18199 runs 42.72, with 40 tons and 93 fifties. The record is unlikely to last long though as Williamson needs only 72 runs to go past Taylor's tally.
Taylor played 112 Test matches and notched up 7683 runs at an average of 44.66, with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. His best of 290 came against Australia in Perth in November 2015. Taylor also hit 217* against the West Indies in Dunedin in December 2013.
The former New Zealand batter also featured in 236 ODIs, scoring 8607 runs at an average of 47.55, with 21 tons and 51 fifties. His best of 181* came against England in Dunedin in March 2018. Taylor also played 102 T20Is, scoring 1909 runs at an average of 26.15 and a strike rate of 122.37, with seven fifties.