5 South African batters with most runs in international cricket ft. AB de Villiers
South Africa are one of the top sides in world cricket. Due to apartheid, the Proteas were banned from international cricket from 1970 to 1991. As a result, legends like Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Mike Procter played only a handful of Test matches. Following their return to international cricket in the early 1990s, though, South Africa didn't take a lot of time to find their groove back.
They have won only one ICC title - the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy. However, the Proteas have been serious contenders in almost every ICC event they have featured in since returning to international cricket. They made the semifinals of the ODI World Cup in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015 and 2023. South Africa also finished runners-up in the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing to India in the final.
One of the reasons the Proteas have been consistent performers in international cricket is because of the number of high-quality batters they have produced. On that note, let's take a look at five South African batters who have scored the most runs in international cricket.
#5 Herschelle Gibbs
Former opener Herschelle Gibbs occupies the fifth spot on the list of South African batters with most runs in international cricket. He played 361 matches (417 innings) and scored 14661 runs at an average of 37.30, with 35 hundreds and 66 half-centuries.
Gibbs played 90 Test matches and notched up 6167 at an average of 41.95, with 14 hundreds and 26 fifties. In ODIs, he featured in 248 matches and amassed 8094 runs at an average of 36.13, with 21 tons and 37 fifties. He also played 23 T20Is, scoring 400 runs at a strike rate of 125.78, with three fifties.
#4 Graeme Smith
Former captain Graeme Smith is fourth on the list of South African batters with most runs in international cricket. In 347 matches (432 innings), he amassed 17236 runs at an average of 42.34, with 37 hundreds and 90 half-centuries.
The former opening batter featured in 117 Test matches and scored 9265 runs at an average of 48.25, with 27 hundreds and 38 half-centuries.
He also played 197 ODIs, scoring 6989 runs at an average of 37.98, with 10 hundreds and 47 half-centuries. In T20Is, Smith played 33 matches and scored 982 runs at a strike rate of 127.53, with five half-centuries.
#3 Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla, one of the batting legends of world cricket, is third on the list of South African batters with most runs in international cricket. He played 349 matches (437 innings) and amassed 18672 runs at an average of 46.56, with 55 hundreds and 88 fifties.
Amla played 124 Test matches and notched up 9282 runs at an average of 46.64, with 28 hundreds and 41 half-centuries. In ODIs, he played 181 matches and scored 8113 runs at an average of 49.46, with 27 centuries and 39 half-centuries. In T20Is, Amla featured in 44 games, scoring 1277 runs at a strike rate of 132.05, with eight fifties and a best of 97*.
#2 AB de Villiers
Former captain and batting legend AB de Villiers occupies the second spot on the list of South African players with most runs in international cricket. De Villiers played 420 matches (484 innings) and scored 20,014 runs at an average of 48.11, with 47 tons and 109 fifties.
He featured in 114 Test matches and scored 8765 runs, averaging 50.66, with 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries.
The 360-degree batter also played 228 ODIs and smashed 9577 runs, averaging 53.50, with 25 hundreds and 53 fifties. He holds the record for the fastest ODI hundred (31 balls).
In T20Is, De Villiers played 78 matches and scored 1672 runs at a strike rate of 135.16. He hit 10 fifties, with a best of 79*.
#1 Jacques Kallis
One of the greatest all-rounders of the game, Jacques Kallis occupies the top spot among South African batters with most runs in international cricket. He featured in 519 matches (617 innings) and amassed 25,534 runs at an average of 49.10, with 62 hundreds and 149 half-centuries.
Kallis played 166 Tests and notched up 13289 runs at an average of 55.37, with 45 hundreds and 58 half-centuries. He was a part of 328 one-day matches, scoring 11,579 runs at an average of 44.36, with 17 hundreds and 86 fifties.
In T20Is, he played 25 matches and scored 666 runs at a strike rate of 119.35. Kallis hit five fifties, with a best of 73.