In 2005, a transformation occurred. The elegant batsman known as Yousuf Youhana embraced a new identity, becoming Mohammad Yousuf. The following year, this name would become synonymous with batting brilliance as he embarked on a record-breaking run in 2006 Test cricket.
Yousuf didn’t just have a good year; he redefined what was possible. He surpassed the three-decade-old benchmark set by the legendary Viv Richards, becoming the top Test run-scorer in a calendar year. This career-defining achievement was built on sheer consistency and a relentless hunger for runs. In fact, 2006 remains the only time in his career where he crossed the 1,000-run mark in a year, cementing his legacy and ensuring that the year belonged to him, and him alone.
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Mohammad Yousuf Test Stats in 2006 – The Numbers Tell the Story:
| Mohammad Yousuf | Overall | in 2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 90 | 11 |
| Innings | 156 | 19 |
| Runs | 7,530 | 1,788 |
| Highest Score | 223 | 202 |
| Average | 52.29 | 99.33 |
| Centuries | 24 | 9 |
| Fifties | 33 | 3 |
Unprecedented Average: Yousuf’s 2006 batting average of 99.33 was nearly double his career average of 52.29. It shows a level of dominance he never reached otherwise.
Century Machine: In just one year, he scored 9 centuries, which accounts for over a third of his total 24 career hundreds, a testament to his incredible form.
Superb Consistency: He amassed a remarkable 1,788 runs in only 11 matches in 2006, contributing a significant portion of his career tally in a very short period.
Conversion Rate: His incredible ability to convert starts into big scores is highlighted by his 2006 ratio of 9 centuries to just 3 fifties, a sharp contrast to his overall career ratio of 24 centuries and 33 fifties.
Mohammad Yousuf’s Unforgettable 2006: A Year of Batting Magic
The year 2006 was not just a personal triumph for Mohammad Yousuf, but also a period of considerable success for the Pakistan cricket team in the Test arena.
More “Pakistan Records”
ODI Stats: Most Runs for Pakistan
ODI Stats: Most Centuries for Pakistan
ODI Stats: Highest Individual Scores for Pakistan
ODI Stats: Highest Individual Scores vs Pakistan
ODI Stats: Most Wickets for Pakistan
ODI Stats: Most Wickets vs Pakistan
Indian Batters with the Most ODI Runs vs Pakistan
Pakistan’s Test Results at Home – A Summary
Test Stats: Most Centuries for Pakistan
Most 200s for Pakistan in Tests
Test Stats: Highest Team Totals by Pakistan
Pakistani Batters with Most Test Runs in SENA Countries
They proved to be a dominant force, winning three of the four Test series they contested that year and, crucially, remaining undefeated in every single home match. This collective success was driven by a formidable batting lineup, a point underscored by the presence of both Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan in the top five Test run-scorers for the year (below).
Even in their sole series loss—the away tour in England—Yousuf’s individual brilliance shone brightest. He was the team’s pillar of strength, scoring three magnificent centuries in a losing cause, a testament to his ability to perform at the highest level regardless of the match outcome. His sheer volume of runs became the very heartbeat of Pakistan’s Test side throughout this pivotal year.
A testament to his unparalleled dominance, the Test runs chart for 2006 reveals just how far ahead of the competition Mohammad Yousuf was.
He was completely dominating the chart above, with an average reaching almost 100!
A Dream Start: The Pakistan vs India Test Series
The year began with a majestic statement. Facing arch-rivals India at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Mohammad Yousuf crafted a sublime century, an innings of 173 runs off 199 balls that set the tone for the season.
That match was a showcase of batting excellence, yielding a total of 1089 runs for the loss of just 8 wickets. A staggering six centuries were scored in all, with four from Pakistan and two from India, leading to an inevitable high-scoring draw.
Yousuf carried his momentum throughout the series, finishing with an impressive tally of 461 runs to help Pakistan secure a 1-0 series win. While the Man of the Series award went to teammate Younis Khan, Yousuf’s form was a crucial pillar of the team’s success.
This early burst was merely a preview of the masterclass to come. Looking at his series-by-series centuries, it’s clear he dominated almost every opponent he faced, with his relentless consistency a key feature of his game.
Mohammad Yousuf: 2006 Innings by Innings
| Runs | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | Opposition | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | 199 | 86.93 | v India | Lahore |
| 65 | 119 | 54.62 | v India | Faisalabad |
| 126 | 179 | 70.39 | v India | Faisalabad |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | v India | Karachi |
| 97 | 161 | 60.24 | v India | Karachi |
| 17 | 34 | 50 | v Sri Lanka | Kandy |
| 14* | 31 | 45.16 | v Sri Lanka | Kandy |
| 202 | 330 | 61.21 | v England | Lord’s |
| 48 | 62 | 77.41 | v England | Lord’s |
| 38 | 58 | 65.51 | v England | Manchester |
| 15 | 32 | 46.87 | v England | Manchester |
| 192 | 261 | 73.56 | v England | Leeds |
| 8 | 7 | 114.28 | v England | Leeds |
| 128 | 236 | 54.23 | v England | The Oval |
| 192 | 330 | 58.18 | v West Indies | Lahore |
| DNB | – | – | v West Indies | Lahore |
| 56 | 117 | 47.86 | v West Indies | Multan |
| 191 | 344 | 55.52 | v West Indies | Multan |
| 102 | 158 | 64.55 | v West Indies | Karachi |
| 124 | 195 | 63.58 | v West Indies | Karachi |
His incredible run was only briefly halted by a rare dip in form during the short series in Sri Lanka, where he failed to register a significant score. However, this was a small blip in an otherwise flawless year.
Yousuf concluded the year in spectacular fashion. In the final Test against the West Indies, he delivered one of his most memorable performances by scoring centuries in both innings (102 and 124).
This feat made him only the sixth Pakistani batsman to achieve such a milestone.
Earlier in the year, he had already recorded his highest score of the season, a magnificent 202, against England at Lord’s.
Ultimately, his phenomenal run was fittingly recognized with two Man of the Series awards that year against both England and the West Indies.
Records broken by Mohammad Yousuf in 2006
Here is the list of Records, Mohammad Yousuf made in the year 2006:
1788 – Most runs in a calendar year in Test cricket. [Click for stats: Most Test Runs in a Calendar Year]
9 – Most centuries in a calendar year in Test cricket. [Click for stats: Most Test 100s in a Calendar Year]
5 – Most consecutive Test centuries for Pakistan, which is the second-most overall, behind Don Bradman’s record of six.
665 – Most runs in a 3-match Test series for a Pakistani batsman (vs. West Indies), which is the second-most overall in a 3-match series.
Most dismissals in 190s: 3 (all coming in that year)
2007 – Awarded the ICC Test Player of the Year.
Cricket Legends and Experts on Yousuf’s 2006 Masterclass
Mohammad Yousuf’s monumental year earned the praise and admiration of key figures in the cricketing world, who spoke of his dedication and sublime talent.
Pakistan’s then-coach, Bob Woolmer, was full of praise for Yousuf’s transformation. Yousuf himself credited Woolmer for the significant change in his style, stating that the coach helped him to improve his balance at the crease, which was a vital factor in his dominance during the 2006 Test series in England.
Echoing this sentiment, Pakistan’s captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, described Yousuf’s consistency that year as “magical.” He was quoted as saying, “I have been playing since 1989 but I have not seen such consistency from a batsman at this level.”
Opposing captain and West Indies legend Brian Lara, against whom Yousuf scored a massive 665 runs in just five innings, also spoke of his peer’s exceptional performance. Lara remarked on his achievement, calling it “excellent and slightly unbelievable… Nine hundreds in a year and that many runs is just magnificent. He is a very committed player and an excellent role model, not just for Pakistan but for young cricketers everywhere.”
Legacy and Impact: How Yousuf’s 2006 Reshaped Test Batting
The year 2006 was defined by the individual brilliance of two cricketing titans: the record-breaking batsman Mohammad Yousuf, and the legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Muralitharan picked 90 Test wickets in the year 2006, which is only next to Shane Warne’s 96 in 2005, in this chart: most Test wickets taken inside a single year.
2006 was also one of the greatest years for Team Australia, who went on to win all 10 Test matches they played that year. Yes, not even a draw!
Still, if it comes to individual batsmanship, Mohammad Yousuf outshined each of his counterparts with his incredible consistency and focus. His record-breaking year remains a standalone monument to batting excellence, making 2006 truly his own.
