The Ashes 2023: Top 5 Run-Scorers In The History Of Ashes

The Ashes is a Test series between two international cricketing titans, England and Australia. The historic series began with Australia’s visit of England in 1882, when the tourists defeated the hosts in their first Test victory over them. Following the match, The Sporting Times reported that English cricket had died, and that “the body will be cremated, and the ashes will be taken to Australia.”

The first contest of the series took place during the 1882–1883 season, and England won by a score of 2-1. Before Australia ultimately won the Ashes series in the 1891–92 season, England won the first eight Ashes series. Over the years, the series has been marked by a fierce rivalry, with players from each nation sacrificing everything they had to keep their respective teams in possession of the fabled urn.

We are examining such individuals in this article who have contributed significantly to The Ashes with their batting. Here are the top five run scorers in the history of the series.

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5. Steven Smith

The fact that Steven Smith is the only active player on our list only serves to highlight the significant influence he has had on the Ashes in recent years. Before making a name for himself with his hitting, the former Australia captain spent the majority of his international career as a leg-spinner. He has clearly liked batting against England, as well.

He has played 32 Ashes Tests and, with the help of 11 centuries and the same number of half-centuries, has amassed 3,044 runs. Smith has an excellent 59.68 average versus England and still has the chance to make life miserable for them.

Smith has a great track record leading the Ashes team. He has commanded Australia in six Ashes Tests, winning five of them and losing the sixth, which resulted in a draw. As they prepare to face England in the Ashes 2023, Australia will be counting on Smith to live up to his reputation as they attempt to win back the Ashes.

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4. Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh, the former illustrious captain of Australia, is listed at number four on this list. The legendary player amassed 3,173 runs at an average of 58.75 during 45 Ashes Tests. In the longest version of the game, he scored 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries against England.

Waugh has a stellar track record leading the Ashes team. Even though he was only able to lead Australia in nine Ashes Tests against England, they won eight of them. Waugh was Australia’s captain when it first began to rule international cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s. From 1997 until 2004, he served as Australia’s Test captain. Additionally, the former batsman led Australia to the 1999 World Cup victory.

After playing for Australia in 168 Tests and 325 ODIs, Waugh retired. 10,927 runs in Tests and 7,569 runs in 50-over cricket were scored by him. Waugh amassed 95 half-centuries and 35 international centuries. In Tests and ODIs, he took 92 and 195 wickets, respectively, with the ball.

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3. Allan Border

Third on the list is former Australia captain Allan Border. 42 Ashes Tests were contested between Border and England, and he amassed 3,222 runs at an average of 55.55. In the Ashes, he amassed a record 19 half-centuries in addition to seven centuries. In the history of the series, no player has amassed more fifties than he has. In addition to his batting, Border also had a significant impact during the Tests as the captain.

As a captain, he still maintains the record for the most Ashes victories. Australia was led by the former batsman in 28 Test matches, winning 13 of them. One of Australia’s most distinguished batsmen and captains, Border had an illustrious career and departed at the top of his game. He guided Australia to the first of their five World Cup victories in 1987.

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2. Jack Hobbs

The only other English player on this illustrious list is England icon Jack Hobbs, who is ranked second. Nearly a century after his retirement, he still holds the record for the most Ashes runs by an Englishman during his brilliant Test career. Hobbs participated in 41 Ashes Tests, scoring 3,636 runs at an excellent average of more than 54.

Against Australia, he amassed a record 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a top score of 187. He has amassed more Ashes centuries than any other England player. Hobbs is remembered as one of the finest English cricketers in history and is still among the sport’s most decorated batters.

After amassing an astounding 61,760 runs and a mind-boggling 199 centuries, he ended his career. In first-class cricket, he added 273 fifties to his total. Hobbs played 61 Test matches for England and amassed 5,410 runs—including 15 hundreds and 28 fifty-pluses—during that time.

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1. Sir Donald Bradman

The most runs scored in the Ashes are currently held by the legendary Donald Bradman. The former Australia captain, who is widely regarded as the best hitter to have ever played the game, scored an astounding 5028 runs at an average of 89.78 in 37 Test matches against England. In addition to collecting 12 half-centuries, he also set a record by scoring 19 centuries versus England.

No other batter from Australia or England has managed to surpass the 4000-run threshold in the Ashes, much less approach the 5000-run threshold, except from Bradman. In the Ashes, Bradman had the most runs scored, the most hundreds, and the greatest batting average. The illustrious batsman retired from Test cricket as one of, if not the, best Tests batsman.

Bradman appeared in 52 Tests, amassing 6,996 runs with the help of 29 hundreds and 13 fifties. His average of 99.94 remains the best in Tests and is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.

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Also Read: The Ashes 2023: Schedule, Venues, and All You Need to Know (cricfiles.com)