Left Handed Openers in Test cricket is the most traditional and historical form of the game. Until and unless a player has won in the longest format of the game, it is impossible to label them great. A test cricket team’s perspective on the opening batsman’s position is crucial. In test cricket, there is a skill to playing in difficult environments while maintaining a small group of players.
If openers are successful, it not only gives the team momentum but also lays the groundwork for a significant score. Historically, right-handers have dominated the sport of cricket, but in recent years, left-handers have asserted their dominance as to why they are more effective in test cricket.
After that, let’s look at the top five greatest left-handed batsmen in terms of runs scored as an opener:
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Alastair Cook:
one of the best left-handed batsmen ever produced by the English cricket team and the cricketing globe as a whole. Alastair Cook has been a major factor in England’s cricket team’s success during the past 20 years.
The persistent left-handed batsman has played in 161 tests, amassing 12472 runs, 33 hundred, and 57 fifties. His 33 hundred are the most ever by a left-handed batsman.
Cook has been outstanding throughout his career thanks to his great ability to get runs as an opener, which is someplace too difficult for a guy from England when opening circumstances in test cricket are particularly challenging. Cook had a blast with the bat, scoring runs against all top-notch bowling combinations to become one of England cricket’s most successful players ever.
Since opening situations in test cricket are particularly difficult for an Englishman, Cook has excelled throughout his career because of his remarkable ability to score runs as an opener. This is a position that is too difficult for someone from England. As one of England cricket’s greatest players ever, Cook had a blast at the plate, hitting runs against all elite bowling combinations.
Graeme Smith:
A more effective test opener or an effective test captain? It wouldn’t be incorrect in the slightest to refer to him as a complete cricketer. Pre-Graeme Smith and Post-Graeme Smith eras can be used to categorize South African cricket. After South Africa’s devastating World Cup loss in 2003, Smith, then 22 years old, was given the captaincy. Since then, he has radically changed the face of South African cricket, becoming a force to be reckoned with and the nation’s most successful captain.
Smith was one of the most productive openers in test cricket because of his capacity for big scores against the greatest teams in the globe. Graeme Smith’s maiden tour against England in 2003 marked a turning point in his career when he finished with 714 runs at an average of 79.33 and was named man of the series. He also scored back-to-back two double hundreds during the tour.
In 117 tests in which he appeared, Graeme Smith amassed 9265 runs at an average of 47.76, with 27 hundred and 38 fifties. In order to create resistance at the top of the order, Smith was quite successful in creating alliances with Herschelle Gibbs and Neil McKenzie.
Mathew Hayden:
Mathew Hayden was a player of a distinct caliber who, with his aggressive strategy against any bowling attack, had established a new method to play test cricket. Although his career didn’t get off to the best of starts, once he got rolling, he was an exhibitionist in every way. a significant player who was a part of Australia’s golden period side that produced several match-winners.
In the period from 2000 to 2008, when Hayden scored over 8000 runs as an opener with an average of over 50 and 30 hundred, slightly behind Allan Border and Ricky Ponting, he formed one of the most dangerous opening pairs with Justin Langer. Even in the subcontinent, he was a genuine game-changer who crushed superb spin attacks with his flare and impeccable timing.
With a career-best score of 380 after surpassing Brian Lara’s 375, which Brian Lara later easily broke in a matter of six months, Hayden played in 103 tests and amassed 8625 runs at an average of 50.74, including 30 hundred and 29 fifties.
Mark Taylor:
In the late 1980s, one of Australia’s most productive batsmen. As Allan Border’s successor, Taylor continued his work to elevate Australia’s cricket team to the pinnacle of global dominance. Taylor was able to score big runs against the top bowling attacks because of his strong defense and solid technique.
To assemble the team of world-beaters, add Michael Slater, a superb test cricket opener, and a terrific skipper.
In 104 tests, Taylor appeared, amassing 7525 runs at an average of 43.5, including 19 hundred and 40 fifties.
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Chris Gayle:
It is rather unexpected to see a player who has excelled in Twenty20 cricket easily crack the top five as a test opener. However, his statistics support his claim to be the West Indies’ most productive test opener in the previous 20 years.
Gayle has had good success in red-ball cricket using the same aggressive strategy as he used in restricted overs. One of just four batsmen in the history of cricket who have scored triple hundreds in the game’s longest format.
In 103 tests, Gayle appeared, amassing 7215 runs at an average of 42.19, with 15 hundred and 37 fifties.
