Younis Khan - The Best Test Batsman Produced by Pakistan. Maybe the World.
Pakistan
rarely plays a Test Series where Younis Khan does not make an impact and their
most recent test series against Bangladesh was no different as Younis played
yet another instrumental innings to set up a Pakistan win in the second test. Pakistan's senior most batsman has been an absolute legend in Tests, something
he has not been able to replicate in ODIs where he finds himself out of favor
with the selectors and the public. When it comes to tests, however, Younis Khan
is a giant of the game and arguably the best batsman produced by Pakistan in
the format. Maybe even the world.
As the Pakistan test team departs for a 3-match test series against Sri Lanka, where Younis Khan will play his 100th test (fitness permitting ofcourse), here we tell you why Younis is in fact the absolute test best!
Last year,
in the test series against Australia, Younis Khan became the first batsman from
Pakistan to score a century against every test playing opposition. He is one of
the only 12 batsmen in the world who have achieved the same feat. Younis Khan
is also Pakistan's leading test centurion with 4 more centuries than the next
best 25 of Inzamam Ul Haq; Younis Khan's most recent test century against
Bangladesh was his 29th. Moreover, currently at third, he is only
285 runs away from becoming the leading run scorer for Pakistan in tests.
Best in the World in Past Decade
While there
is little doubt that he is one of the best produced by Pakistan, his
performances over the years demonstrate that he is among the best in the world
as well. He has performed far better than most of the modern day greats that
the world media is always vocal about. In a number of ways he has given
remarkable performances that out shine those of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky
Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid.
Not only has
Younis scored more runs than all of them after 98 tests, he has averaged more
than all of them in the past decade of test cricket.
Only Kumar
Sangakkara averages more than Younis in tests played since 1st January 2005,
and only Sangakkara and Kallis have more centuries than Younis does during this
period. What is even more eye opening is that Younis has the same number of
centuries as Hashim Amla does during these 10 years in 15 fewer innings.
Exceptional away from home
Those who
are quick to call Younis good on only subcontinental wickets must be pleasantly
surprised to note that Younis has scored runs all over the world and against
all opposition. He is the third highest run scorer in tests played away from
home; behind only Tendulkar and Dravid. Additionally, only Tendulkar has scored
more centuries away from home than Younis has. Younis is also one of the few
batsmen in this world who average over 50 in tests played away from home.
An Absolute Match Winner
Sachin
Tendulkar is often criticized by his own countrymen for scoring tons of runs
that don't matter. Critics claim that Tendulkar hardly ever scored when it
mattered and that he does not have as many match winning innings as someone
like Dravid or Inzamam. There is absolutely no doubt in that statement when one
takes a look at the batsmen that have the highest averages in tests won by
their team.
Younis Khan
is right up there, over and above all, except Inzamam and Sir Gary Sobers.
Younis has a phenomenal average of 75.4 in tests won by Pakistan and 15 of his
test hundreds have come in winning causes. Younis' contribution to Pakistan's
wins has been remarkable and significantly better than that of the 'popular'
modern day greats that are still playing such as AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla,
Micheal Clarke, and Alastair Cook.
A Match Winner away from home
Younis has
not only contributed to test wins for Pakistan, he has done so for tests won
away from home as well, which has been a task and a half for subcontinent teams
in the recent past. Younis is the leading run scorer in the world in tests won
away from home, and his Bradmenesque average of 90 in those tests is the third
best in the world, behind only two Englishmen - Cook and Wally Hammond. Younis
also has the most centuries in tests won away from home and is equal on that
front with another legend, Steve Waugh.
A King of the 4th Innings
Younis'
true testament to being a batsman for all conditions comes forth in the fact
that he is among the only 8 batsmen in this world who average above 50 in the
4th innings of test matches, and among the only 4 batsmen in this world who
have scored 4 test centuries in 4th innings of tests. It doesn't take a genius
to know that such centuries can only be match winning or match saving efforts.
A More Frequent Century Maker
It is a
shame that Pakistan does not play enough test cricket for if Younis Khan played
as much as Tendulkar, Kallis, Ponting, Sangakkara, and other great batsmen did
he would have more runs and more centuries than all of them. Younis has been
around for 15 years and in this time he has played only 98 tests. Others like
Sangakkara, Cook, KP, Graeme Smith, Clarke who debuted around the same time or
after Younis have gone to play well above a 100 test matches. Younis' average
and the number of innings he takes to score a test 100 demonstrate that he
would have scored far more runs than any of the above mentioned batsmen
(barring Sangakkara) had Pakistan played more tests than the other countries.
So for all
those who talk about Tendulkar, Dravid, Ponting, Lara, Kallis, and Sangakkara
as the modern day greats and mention Cook, Clarke, KP, ABD, and Amla as the
current generation of great test batsmen must not forget Younis Khan who stands
over and above all these batsmen. He is a test legend no less and the best this
world has seen. Fortunately for all of us, he is not done yet and his fitness
levels are good enough to keep him going for some more years at least.
The
intangible effect that Younis Khan has had is also a feat for the great
batsmen. All his captains have spoken highly of him being a true team man.
While the younger generation of Pakistani batsmen have publicly praised Younis
for helping the out on and off the field. Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam,
and Umar Akmal claim that Younis was the guiding force towards them scoring
their first, and in some cases many more, test centuries.
Younis' contribution
to Pakistan's test success is nothing short of phenomenal and the man will go
down in history as the best test batsman ever produced by Pakistan.
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Younis Khan is right up there, over and above all, except Inzamam and Sir Gary Sobers. Younis has a phenomenal average of 75.4 in tests won by Pakistan and 15 of his test hundreds have come in winning causes. Younis' contribution to Pakistan's wins has been remarkable and significantly better than that of the 'popular' modern day greats that are still playing such as AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Micheal Clarke, and Alastair Cook.
Cricket Samrat
So Sachin has scored tons of runs where it didn't matter! How casually you dismiss the greatness of the one of the world's greatest cricketers ever born!!!
You forget longevity...maintaining an avg of 53.78 over 200 tests, 100 more than your protagonist.
Also, Tendulkar scored 20 centuries in test wins as opposed to the 17 that Dravid did. The leader in this list is Ricky Ponting -- who scored 30 centuries (in 27 matches!).
I agree that Younis Khan has been a great performer but putting down THE GREAT, SACHIN TENDULKAR....is not so muchin good taste.
Younis without a doubt is among all time top ten world has seen. Considering him any less will be entirely unfair
He averages less than 45 outside Asia minus minnows. A great Pakistani batsman, but not a top tier great. And unlike someone like Lara, he never made big runs against any big bowling attacks or in big conditions.
Well said. He is the most likeable Pakistani cricketer of this generation!
Please update the record as Younis Khan has already scored Century No. 30 against Srilanka in June/July 2015 and breaking many more records.