Top 10 greatest men's Test batters of the 21st century ft. Sachin Tendulkar & Joe Root
Batting in cricket can easily be divided into the pre and post-21st century eras, considering the vast evolutionary changes between the two. Batters hinged their methods mainly on biding time, endurance, and defensive technique with scoring being an afterthought during the eras when only Test cricket existed until the 1970s.
However, with the introduction of the limited-overs format, batting became more fast-paced, with a mixture of attack and defense in equal measure becoming a premium until the end of the 20th century. Yet, all that has been largely thrown out of the window since the turn of the 21st century with even batting in Tests focussed on scoring and producing runs over placing a heavy prize on a batter's wicket.
With the advent of the T20 format in the latter half of the 2000s, that trend has only continued ascending.
This often makes it harder to rank batters from all generations due to the massive change in mindset, among other factors, due to the lack of a common denominator. Hence, it is only fair we maintain equilibrium and rank the top ten Test batters of the 21st century, where the measuring yardsticks would be more even.
Before diving into the ranking, let us pay tribute to a few honorable mentions who barely missed the cut.
Honorable Mentions
Younis Khan, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Alastair Cook, Mahela Jayawardene, Michael Clarke, Hashim Amla, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, and Virender Sehwag.
#10 Brian Lara
West Indian legend Brian Lara is the only one on this top 10 list without at least 8,000 Test runs in the 21st century. Yet, his incredible average of 58.24, while scoring 5,883 runs in 57 outings helped him leapfrog a few names in the honorary mentions with substantially more runs but not as impressive an average.
Also worth mentioning is that Lara recorded the highest-ever individual Test score of 400* against England in 2004. His 688 runs in the series in Sri Lanka in 2001 remains the second most in Test history in a three-match affair.
The champion batter scored 19 centuries post 2000 at an extraordinary matches: centuries ratio of 3:1.
Brian Lara's Test numbers in the 21st century
57 Matches, 5,883 Runs, 58.24 Average, 19 Centuries
#9 Kane Williamson
Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson continues to dominate Test cricket with his willow as very few have in the game's history. Debuting in Tests in 2010, the 34-year-old has amassed 8,881 runs at an excellent average of 54.48 in 102 matches.
Williamson has also smashed 32 centuries in his illustrious Test career and has averaged 50+ in 10 out of his 15 seasons, including eight straight and counting. The remarkable consistency has made Willamson the greatest Test batter from New Zealand.
Kane Wliiamson's Test numbers in the 21st century
102 Matches, 8,881 Runs, 54.48 Average, 32 Centuries
#8 Shivnarine Chanderpaul
One of the most underrated greats of Test cricket, Shivnarine Chanderpaul is at No.8 among Test batters of the 21st century. The former West Indian enjoyed a spectacular 21-year Test career from the mid-1990s to 2015.
Yet, his most glittering moments came from the end of the 2000s until the end of his career when West Indies cricket was in the doldrums following Brian Lara's retirement. Chanderpaul scored 9,185 runs in 119 matches post-2000 at an average of 55.66 with 28 centuries.
The southpaw had three seasons averaging 111.60, 101, and 98.70 in 2007, 2008, and 2012 in an otherwise sinking West Indian ship in Tests.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul's Test numbers in the 21st century
119 Matches, 9,185 Runs, 55.66 Average, 28 Centuries
#7 Sachin Tendulkar
That India's Sachin Tendulkar even makes the top 10 for the 21st century reflects his inimitable longevity, tenacity, and consistency, considering he had completed almost half his career before the turn of the century. The Little Master remains the all-time leading run-scorer in Test history and boasts the most centuries with 51.
Yet, Tendulkar's numbers from just 2000 are the equivalent of several legendary batters' entire careers. He scored 9,505 runs in 121 Tests at an average of 51.65 with 27 centuries.
Tendulkar is one of the few batters in Test history with an average of over 50 at home and away.
Sachin Tendulkar's Test numbers in the 21st century
121 Matches, 9,505 Runs, 51.65 Average, 27 Centuries
#6 Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar's long-time teammate Rahul Dravid comes in next on this elite list of Test batters from the 21st century. Dravid boasted almost identical numbers to Tendulkar post-2000 with 9,966 runs at an average of 51.90 in 124 matches, including 28 centuries.
Numbers aside, Dravid's impact was incredible as India turned from poor travelers to a respectable unit away from home. The right-handed batter was the star of India's best Test wins in the 2000s.
The 180 in India's remarkable turnaround win in Kolkata in 2001 was followed by the 148 in Leed's, 233 in Adelaide, and 270 in Rawalpindi - all of which were memorable India wins on foreign soil. Famously referred to as the 'Wall', Dravid was instrumental in India turning around their fortunes in Test cricket, especially away from home.
He was also the first recipient of the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award in 2004.
Rahul Dravid's Test numbers in the 21st century
124 Matches, 9,966 Runs, 51.90 Average, 28 Centuries
#5 Joe Root
England's Joe Root is arguably the best Test batter in world cricket at the moment with his unquenchable thirst to score runs. Since his Test debut in 2012, Root has been the hallmark of consistency despite playing in challenging home conditions in England.
The 33-year-old is already fifth all-time in Test runs with 12,716 at an average of 51.27, including 35 centuries. Root is also the leading run-scorer in Tests since 2000.
With his rate of scoring big, it would not be the least bit surprising if Root is on top of a similar ranking in another two to three years.
Joe Root's Test numbers in the 21st century
148 Matches, 12,716 Runs, 51.27 Average, 35 Centuries
#4 Ricky Ponting
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting made the 2000s his own, thanks to his scoring and leading the side to innumerable victories. He is one of only six batters to score over 10,000 runs in Tests since 2000.
Ponting amassed 10,968 runs in 130 Tests from 2001 at an average of 53.24, including 34 centuries. The stylish right-handed was also among the fastest-scoring batters in Test cricket, evidenced by his strike rate of 60.79 in Tests post-2000.
Ponting is also the second all-time leading run-scorer in overall Tests with 13,378 runs.
Ricky Ponting's Test numbers in the 21st century
130 Matches, 10,968 Runs, 53.24 Average, 34 Centuries
#3 Steve Smith
Perhaps the best Test batter of the ongoing generation, Australia's Steve Smith comes in at No.3 on the list of best batters post-2000. Despite starting his Test career in 2010 as a leg-spinner who can bat a bit, Smith fast turned into Australia's Mr.Reliable across conditions against the red ball.
The 35-year-old has scored 9.685 runs at an average of 56.97 with 32 centuries in 109 Test outings.
Included in those are his memorable three centuries on the Indian tour in 2017 and the 2019 Ashes in England, where he plundered the English attack for three centuries and as many half-centuries in four games.
Smith is the only player to win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award twice in 2015 and 2017.
Steve Smith's Test numbers in the 21st century
109 Matches, 9.685 Runs, 56.97 Average, 32 Centuries
#2 Kumar Sangakkara
Former Sri Lankan batter Kumar Sangakkara was the perfect combination of consistency with big scores during his decorated Test career.
Making his Test debut just before the start of the 21st century, Sangakkara dominated the next 15 years like very few have. The southpaw scored the third-most runs post-2000 in Tests with 12,226 at an otherworldy average of 58.49, including 38 centuries in 130 matches.
Sangakkara was involved in the greatest Test partnership of 624 runs with Mahela Jayawardene as he scored a sensational 287 against a high-quality South African attack in 2006.
Kumar Sangakkara's Test numbers in the 21st century
130 Matches, 12,226 Runs, 58.49 Average, 38 Centuries
#1 Jacques Kallis
Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was the definition of perfection when it came to technique for Test batting. Despite starting his red-ball career in 1995, Kallis came into his own as an immovable object for bowlers since the turn of the century.
His Test average of 59.55 is the highest among batters with at least 5,000 runs since 2000. Kallis also scored 10,660 with 38 centuries- the joint-highest with Sangakkara post-2000.
He also won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award in 2005, with batting averages of over 70 from the start of 2004 to the end of 2005.