In the ongoing Test match in Christchurch between New Zealand and England, the Kiwi star Kane Williamson has completed his 9000 runs in Test cricket. With his 26th run in the second innings, Williamson became the latest entrant to the 9000-runs club, becoming the first Kiwi player to do so.
This achievement came in Williamson’s 182nd win making him the eighth fastest in the history of Test cricket to reach 9,000 runs. Among his contemporaries, Williamson is the second-quickest of the renowned Fab Four. Steve Smith tops the list, having reached the mark in just 174 innings. Notably, only Kumar Sangakkara has achieved the milestone in fewer innings, doing so in 172.
Comparisons with Joe Root and Virat Kohli
Joe Root and Virat Kohli took 196 and 197 innings respectively, to reach this milestone. Kohli, the former Indian captain, reached his 9,000th run only recently in a Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. In contrast, Williamson’s rapid ascent places him between cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Younis Khan in the overall list of those who have achieved this feat quickly.
Most Test runs (Fab 4)
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JE Root (ENG) | 150 | 273 | 12,754 | 35/64 |
| SPD Smith (AUS) | 110 | 197 | 9,702 | 32/41 |
| V Kohli (IND) | 119 | 203 | 9,145 | 30/31 |
| KS Williamson (NZ) | 103 | 182 | 9,000 | 32/36 |
Fastest to score 9000 runs (Fab 4)
| Player | Country | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Australia | 174 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 182 |
| Joe Root | England | 196 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 197 |
Unreal consistency over the years
The 34-year-old former New Zealand captain continues to show extraordinary consistency in the latter half of his Test career. Since 2017, Williamson has maintained an average above 50 every calendar year. During this period, he has averaged more than 62 across 47 Test matches.
Ahead of Virat Kohli
Williamson’s overall Test batting average is approaching the 55-mark, which favourably compares with the other members of the Fab Four. He is ahead of Joe Root (50.81) and Virat Kohli (48.13) and just marginally behind Steve Smith (56.40).
Players with the fastest to reach 9000 Test runs
| Player | Country | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 172 |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 174 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 176 |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | 177 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 177 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 178 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 179 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 182 |
| Younis Khan | Pakistan | 184 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 188 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | India | 192 |
New Zealand players with most Test runs
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KaneWilliamson | 103 | 182 | 9000 | 251 |
| Ross Taylor | 112 | 196 | 7683 | 290 |
| Stephen Fleming | 111 | 189 | 7172 | 274* |
| Brandon McCullum | 101 | 176 | 6453 | 302 |
| Kane Williamson | 86 | 154 | 5711 | 264* |
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