Top 5 Fastest Batters To Reach 19,000 International Runs

Joe Root registered his 31st Test hundred (X.com)

To be known as the greatest batter in cricket, one has to score a truckload of runs and to do that one has to play for a long time. The legends of the game like, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and others have played for a long time and have made immense contributions towards their teams' success. There are a few modern-era cricketers as well, who are already inching towards greatness with their performances at the greatest stage of the game. 

Particularly, the fab-four are turning things around in all three formats of the game. Virat Kohli recently broke the record for most centuries in ODI cricket by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. On the other hand, Kane Williamson hammered his 32nd Test century and now, Joe Root has hammered his 31st Test century as well. With this ton, Joe Root becomes the fourth fastest batter to have crossed the 19,000-run mark in international cricket. To acknowledge his monumental feat, we at OneCricket are presenting the fastest batters to reach 19,000 international runs. 

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Virat Kohli - 399 Innings

Virat Kohli (X.com)

The run machine of the Indian team, Virat Kohli is turning out to be one of the greatest players of all time. He has been nothing short of a gift to the sport and Indian cricket. With over 26,000 international runs, Virat is already there among the legends and has created numerous records under his name. 

With 80 International centuries in his career so far, Virat Kohli is inching towards breaking the record for the most international centuries which is currently owned by Sachin Tendulkar. When it comes to 19,000 international runs, Virat crossed that mark in his 399th innings and became the fastest one to do so. 

Sachin Tendulkar - 432 Innings

Sachin Tendulkar (X.com)

If there's a supreme power in cricket or the greatest cricketer ever in the history of this phenomenal sport, Sachin Tendulkar, the pride of India stands right up there with over 34,000 international runs to his name including 100 centuries across formats. We might see one or two players breaking his 100 international centuries record, but it's almost impossible to break his record of most Test centuries.

Having made his debut at the age of just 16, Sachin went on to represent the country for 2 long years and was indeed a gem of a player. Whether it was his ability to stick in the middle absorb the pressure or smacking bowlers and put the opposition on the back foot, Sachin was the master of all. He is the second fastest to reach 19000 international runs in 432 innings. 

Brian Lara - 433 Innings

Brian Lara (X.com)

Brian Charles Lara, one of the most elegant-looking players and the one who went on to score 400 in a single innings of a Test, is also among the fastest players to reach 19,000 international runs. In his career, Lara went on to score 22,000 runs and registered 53 centuries under his name. 

The southpaw with his amazing elegance and consistency, became one of the elite players in the cricket world. Despite being from the generation of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid, Lara went on to make a name for himself in the sport. Being the third fastest, he completed 19,000 international runs in 433 innings. 

Joe Root - 444 Innings

Joe Root (X.com)

One of the greatest batters in modern-day cricket, Joe Root is turning out to be the legendary batter for England cricket. With 31 centuries already in Test cricket, he is on the verge of becoming the English batter with the most Test centuries, as Alistair Cook stands at the top with 33 tons. 

After not being able to score runs in the first three Test of the ongoing series against India, Root finally managed to churn out runs and smacked his first ton of the series. With this ton, he also completed the monumental landmark of 19,000 international runs in his career and became the fourth fastest to do the same. 

Ricky Ponting - 444 Innings

Ricky Ponting (X.com)

If cricket has seen the greatest captains then Ricky Ponting comes right amongst the top for his contributions to Australian cricket. Along with his leadership skills, Ricky was also among the best batters in the world. With over 27,000 international runs, Ponting is the highest run-scorer from Australia. 

With 71 centuries to his name, Ponting played a major role in Australia's success throughout his career. He comes last on the list of players who took the fewest innings to cross the 19,000-run mark in international cricket, as this feat for him came in his 444th innings.

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