Indian pacer Umesh Yadav tops the chart for having the highest strike rate in Test. In a match against South Africa, he scored 31 runs off just 10 balls including 5 sixes. All 5 sixes came in against George Linde. During this match, he had a strike rate of 310. He is followed by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming. In a match against South Africa, Stephen scored 31 runs off 11 balls at a strike rate of 281.1 including 6 boundaries and a six. Australian pacer, Ryan Harris is ranked 3rd in the list of highest strike rate in a test. In a match against India, he scored 29 of 9 balls including 5 boundaries at a strike rate of 277.77.
In the history of test cricket, there have been only 8 such instances where a batsman has scored with a strike of 250 or above. These players are from countries like – India, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies & Bangladesh.
Both India and West Indies batsmen have scored at a strike rate of 250 or above twice. From India Umesh Yadav has scored twice with a strike rate of 310 & 250 respectively in 2 innings. From West Indies, Keith Boyce (260) & Kevin McLean (258.33) had scored at a strike rate of 250 or above in a test match. From New Zealand – Stephen Fleming, Australia- Ryan Harris, Sri Lanka – Muttiah Murlitharan & Bangladesh – Abdur Razzak have each scored runs at a strike rate of 250 or above in a test match once.
S No. | Player | Team | Opposition | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
1 | Umesh Yadav | India | v South Africa | 31 | 10 | – | 5 | 310 |
2 | Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | v South Africa | 31 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 281.81 |
3 | Ryan Harris | Australia | v India | 25 | 9 | 5 | – | 277.77 |
4 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | v India | 29 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 263.63 |
5 | Keith Boyce | West Indies | v England | 26 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 260 |
6 | Kevin McLean | West Indies | v South Africa | 31 | 12 | – | 4 | 258.33 |
7 | Abdur Razzak | Bangladesh | v Zimbabwe | 43 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 252.94 |
8 | Umesh Yadav | India | v Bangladesh | 25 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 250 |
9 | Moeen Ali | England | v India | 43 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 238.88 |
10 | Bill Howell | Australia | v England | 35 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 233.33 |
11 | Ben Stokes | England | v Pakistan | 41 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 227.77 |
12 | Darrem Sammy | West Indies | v India | 25 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 227.27 |
13 | Geraint Jones | England | v Australia | 27 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 225 |
14 | Praveen Kumar | India | v England | 40 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 222.22 |
15 | Colin de Grandhomme | New Zealand | v Bangladesh | 33 | 15 | – | 4 | 220 |
16 | Jaques Kallis | South Africa | v Zimbabwe | 54 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 216 |
17 | David Warner | Australia | v South Africa | 30 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 214.28 |
18 | Michael Holding | West Indies | v England | 32 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 213.33 |
19 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | v Australia | 48 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 208.69 |
20 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | v West Indies | 58 | 28 | 6 | 5 | 207.14 |
21 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | v Australia | 31 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 206.66 |
22 | Harbhajan Singh | India | v Zimbabwe | 37 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 205.55 |
23 | David Warner | Australia | v Pakistan | 55 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 203.7 |
24 | Ben Stokes | England | v Australia | 32 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 200 |
25 | Shoaib Akhtar | Pakistan | v India | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 200 |
26 | Stuart Clarke | West Indies | v Pakistan | 35 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 194.44 |
27 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | v England | 31 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 193.75 |
28 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | v England | 77 | 40 | 4 | 9 | 192.5 |
29 | Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | v Pakistan | 25 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 192.3 |
30 | Vivian Richards | West Indies | v England | 110 | 58 | 7 | 7 | 189.65 |
FAQs
1. Which batsman has the highest strike rate in tests?
Umesh Yadav of India has the highest strike rate in a match against South Africa. He had a strike rate of 310.
2. Which player scored a half-century with the highest strike rate?
Jacques Kallis scored 54 of 25 balls at a strike rate of 216.
3. Which West Indies player scored a century with the highest strike rate?
West Indies legend Viv Richards scored 110 of 58 balls at a strike of 189.65 against England.
4. Who is the only Bangladesh player to feature in the list of top 30 batsmen with the highest strike rate in tests?
Abdur Razzak is the only player of Bangladesh who features in the list. In a match against Zimbabwe he scored 42 of 17 balls at a strike rate of 252.94.