Every team wants a reliable batter in the No. 4 slot. Why?
They want someone to stabilise their ship after an early setback or solidify their position after a strong start.
That’s the reason why teams reserve the No. 4 spot for their best batters. Over the years, we have seen many batters put up consistent performances at No. 4 in Test cricket.
On that note, let’s look at the 10 greatest No. 4 batters in test cricket.
10. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
Younis Khan was Pakistan’s crisis man at No. 4 in Test cricket. He was a capable batter to pull out his team from trouble and provide the stability.
Younis debuted in 2000, batting at several positions from No. 3 to No. 7. But it was after 2002 that he kept oscillating between No. 3 and No. 4.
Younis scored 4000-plus runs at both positions, but he found a bit more success as a No. 4 batter. He amassed 4985 runs in 107 innings at an average of 53.03, including 17 hundreds and as many fifties.
9. Kevin Pietersen (England)
Kevin Pietersen is the most audacious batter to have played for England. He had some outrageous shots in his books, especially the switch hit, which he executed flawlessly.
The South Africa-born batter donned the England Test jersey in 2005. And a year later, he found himself batting at No. 4 on the tough India tour.
But that historic series turned out to be decent for Pietersen, where he showcased his spin-batting abilities. That cemented his position at No. 4, and he went on to score 6490 runs. He averaged 48.43 while smashing 19 centuries and 27 fifties.
8. Javed Miandad (Pakistan)
Considered one of the greatest batters from Pakistan, Javed Miandad stood tall against some of the fierce bowling attacks of his time. He was clever in finding the gaps and putting the runs on the board.
Abdul Hafeez Kardar discovered Miandad’s talent, and he showcased it early on in his Test career. Batting in his third innings, the right-hand batter smashed a double ton against New Zealand in 1976.
Miandad was equally good in overseas conditions, which depicted his ability to score runs in almost any condition. At no. 4, he gathered 6925 runs in 140 innings at an average of 54.10, including 19 centuries and 31 fifties.
7. Virat Kohli (India)
Once Sachin Tendulkar retired from Test cricket in 2013, there was a question: who would fill his void at No. 4? Virat Kohli staked his claim and proved it with a solid hundred in his first innings in that position in South Africa.
Since then, he has been the backbone of India’s batting lineup, tormenting bowling attacks with consistency. That has placed Kohli in the league of the greatest batters of the modern era.
The right-hand batter’s performances at No. 4 have also enabled India to taste success not just at home but in away Tests. Kohli is still going strong, with close to 7500 runs and over 25 centuries.
6. Steven Smith (Australia)
Another batter from this era to make it big as a dependable No. 4 batter. When he started playing in 2010, he was a leg spinner who could bat well in the lower order.
But three years later, Smith returned as a proper batter, batting at No. 5. His consistent run-making saw him fill in for then-captain Michael Clarke at No. 4 slot, which he made his own with time.
Smith’s remarkable career did take a plunge in 2018, with his involvement in ball-tampering in the Newlands Test. But he bounced back with the same enthusiasm, putting on brilliant performances since 2019.
Thus far, Smith has accumulated over 6000 runs at No. 4 while averaging close to 60.
5. Brian Lara (West Indies)
Brian Lara was an elegant batter who played for the West Indies. There were quite a few batters during his time who scored big knocks with consistency.
His unbeaten 400 is a testimony to that, which still stands as the highest individual score in this format. Lara’s penchant for big scores was on display throughout the years, smashing six doubles tons while batting at No. 4.
He started his career in that position and played 91 Tests, scoring 7535 runs at an impressive average of 60.16. Lara laced his run tally with 24 hundreds and 31 fifties.
4. Joe Root (England)
Joe Root is one of the consistent performers for England in the whites, especially after the turn of this decade. The way he is churning out runs with precision and patience is commendable.
The right-hand batter started his career in late 2012, batting lower down the order. A few months later, he also opened the batting for England.
But it was in the middle order where he found solace. Root shifted to the No. 4 slot after trying out many positions and sealed the spot immediately with a 130-run knock against Australia in the 2015 Ashes.
The former England skipper still has a lot of cricket left in him. And he is looking to add more runs to his 7500-plus run tally.
3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Jacques Kallis was a force behind South Africa’s surge in world cricket. He contributed equally across departments to earn the tag of one of the greatest all-rounders.
But Kallis’ batting exploits outweighed his bowling skills, as he topped the Test run charts for South Africa. He made his Test debut in 1995 and built a reputation at the No. 3 slot.
But Kallis moved down a spot after six years and brought out his best as a No. 4 batter. He had a firm batting technique, which helped him accumulate loads of runs while bowlers struggled to dismiss him.
Kallis continued his mayhem even in his last Test in 2013, smashing 115 against India in the Boxing Day Test. He retired with 9033 runs in 111 matches at No. 4, including 35 centuries and 36 half-centuries. The right-hander is the only other No. 4 batter than Steven Smith to average above 60.
2. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Like many other batters on this list, Mahela Jayawardene also shuffled between different positions before cementing his spot at No. 4. And when he did, he plundered runs with elegance.
A classical batter, Jayawardene stood tall on the crease, dishing out big knocks with persistence. He also forged a solid partnership with Kumar Sangakkara in the middle, often stabilising Sri Lanka’s innings.
With a great batting technique at his disposal, Jayawardene executed almost all shots in the book around the field. The former Sri Lankan skipper bowed out of Test cricket as one of the finest No. 4 batters.
His numbers in that slot are phenomenal, as he accumulated 9509 runs in 124 Tests at an average of 52.24, including 30 tons and 35 fifties.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Sachin Tendulkar is by far the greatest No. 4 batsman. And he will most likely keep the tag for a long time. His run tally at No. 4 alone clears many batter’s combined career runs.
After two years into his Test career, Tendulkar took up the No. 4 slot in the middle of a challenging tour of Australia. But he defied the conditions and scored a brilliant 114 in the 1992 Perth Test.
That knock was the beginning of a legacy that the Master Blaster carved in his favourite slot. He put up many remarkable performances, one after another match.
Tendulkar amassed 13492 runs as a No. 4 batter. He averaged 54.40 while raising 44 centuries and 58 half-centuries. Only 4 batters in Test cricket have accumulated more than 10000 runs in a single batting position including Sachin at No. 4. Find the list here.
