Runs by the lower-order batters are crucial for a team’s success. And there is nothing like a batter coming at say 6 scoring runs game on game, consistently. While they may not make big daddy hundreds as the top order batters, even a score of fifty will suffice team needs.
The above stats give you a glimpse of such players in Test cricket who have shown penchant to make more of such scores, even while batting down the order.
Most 50+ Scores by No. 6 or Lower Batters in an Away Test Series
| Player | Innings | 50+ Scores | 100s | 50s | Highest Score | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerry Alexander (WI) | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 108 | West Indies in Australia, 1960/61 |
| Wasim Raza (PAK) | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 117* | Pakistan in West Indies, 1976/77 |
| Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 107* | India in England, 2024/25 |
| Gary Sobers (WI) | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 174 | West Indies in England, 1966 |
| Gary Sobers (WI) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 95 | West Indies in India, 1966/67 |
| Greg Matthews (AUS) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 96 | Australia in Sri Lanka, 1992 |
| VVS Laxman (IND) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 130 | India in West Indies, 2002 |
| Johnny Douglas (ENG) | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 68 | England in Australia, 1920/21 |
| Dattu Phadkar (IND) | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 123 | India in Australia, 1947/48 |
| Tony Greig (ENG) | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 110 | England in Australia, 1974/75 |
Key Stats – Most Half-centuries by Lower Order Batters in Overseas Test Series
Gary Sobers is the only batter to score five or more half-centuries while coming at No. 6 or lower in the batting order in an away series twice. He is also the only batter to score more than two centuries in a single series batting at No. 6 or lower.
The West Indies legend achieved this feat in the same season, with the first instance occurring during the 1966 English summer and the second in the Indian subcontinent. In both of these instances, the West Indies recorded series wins.
His 722 runs in the away series as a captain against England remain the highest series aggregate by a batter coming in at batting position six or lower in Test cricket.
A total of six fifty-plus scores is the most a batter has scored in a single Test series while coming at No. 6 or lower. This unique Test record is held by Alexander, Raza, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom scored a solitary century each in their respective series.
There have been only five instances of a batter scoring 400 or more runs in a Test series while batting at No. 6 or lower in the batting order.
