The Masters of Big Scores: Most 50+ Innings

Some examples of what it means to be an all-time legend and today’s top players are Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. These two great players have demonstrated that scoring runs is not the most important aspect of being a great player, but rather the player’s reliability and consistency. The following blog post will examine those batsmen who have the most 50+ runs in International Cricket.

S.NO	PLAYER	50+ Scores In International Cricket
1.	Sachin Tendulkar	264
2.	Virat Kohli	226
3.	Ricky Ponting	217
4.	Kumar Sangakkara	216
5.	Jacques Kallis	211

Sachin Tendulkar

There is no batting record in cricket that does not have Sachin Tendulkar’s name on it. During his decades of dominion over the sport, Master Blaster secured his place in history by producing countless records. Sachin Tendulkar not only holds the record for 50+ overtime runs in an international cricket match (264), but also holds more than any other batsman.

Tendulkar’s ability to consistently achieve results has never been surpassed by any current cricket player. Currently, no other cricketer has been able to exceed 250 runs in this milestone. Only Virat Kohli is coming close to Tendulkar, yet he would need an additional 38 50+ scores to level his mark. Additionally, it is important to note that Kohli may retire soon which will prevent him from breaking this record.

Tendulkar retired as the greatest player of all time, thereby setting an example for future generations of cricketers to emulate. In the Test Format, Tendulkar has scored more centuries (51) than any player in the history of the format.

FORMAT	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	100s	50s
TESTS	200	329	15,921	53.78	–	51	68
ODIs	463	452	18,426	44.83	86.23	49	96
T20Is	1	1	10	10.00	83.33	0	0

It has nearly been impossible for a present-day batting record to be surpassed in either Test or ODI formats due to the overwhelming talent of each generation. In ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar holds the all-time highest run total and is the only player with over 18,000 runs in any single format of the game. Even with many players currently excelling at a high level in ODI play, Tendulkar’s all-time highest run total is likely safe for as long as cricket exists.

Virat Kohli

In terms of records, the player with the most records comparable to Sachin Tendulkar is Virat Kohli, who has been the player who admires Tendulkar most. Virat Kohli has continued the legacy of The Master Blaster in the Indian team since Sachin’s retirement. He has broken many of the records that Sachin Tendulkar previously owned.

Virat Kohli has achieved 226 50+ scores as of now in all formats of cricket. While he played for the Indian team in all three formats, he is considered to be one of the greatest modern-day cricketers. Even though he has retired from both T20I and Test cricket, he continues to perform consistently in ODI cricket.

FORMAT	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	100s	50s
TESTS	123	210	9,230	46.85	55.57	30	31
ODIs	305	293	14,255	57.71	93.26	51	75
T20Is	125	117	4,188	48.69	137.04	1	38

Virat Kohli’s batting average in ODI cricket is 57.71, which indicates his consistency in this format. Virat Kohli also holds the record for the most ODI centuries, surpassing the record of Sachin Tendulkar. If Kohli gets one more century in ODIs, he will hold the record for being the player with the most century records in one format of the game.

Virat Kohli is certainly a pillar of strength for this generation and has challenged younger players to keep elevating their game to meet the high standards he creates each time he walks on the field. He has also proven he can keep up his scoring rate even in the rapid speed of T20I matches. He holds the record for most 50+ scores (39) in only 117 innings played during this format, which is quite an achievement. Additionally, his performances during T20 World Cups are etched in the minds of all fans, as he continues to be the highest scorer (overall) in these competitions.

Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting is the third-best by number of 50 plus scores in international cricket; behind two Indian players. Ponting has amassed an impressive total of 217 fifty-plus scores across all formats. In addition to being Australia’s best batsman, Ricky Ponting is also Australia’s most successful cricket captain in history.

Regardless of whether he was competing in Australia or anywhere else in the world, Ponting was always successful at scoring runs for his team. This may explain why no Australian batsman has ever come close to matching his accomplishments, even today. Although Ponting is now working as a coach in T20 leagues worldwide, Australia will always remember what he brought to the Australian cricket team.

In addition, Ricky Ponting is also the captain who has played the most matches in ODI history – 230 matches as captain). He played a key role for Australia during their World Cup games with the bat Ponting is the only captain to have led his team to back-to-back World Cup championships, making him one of the most successful captains in both Australia and in all of international cricket.

FORMAT	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	100s	50s
TESTS	168	287	13,378	51.85	58.72	41	62
ODIs	375	365	13,704	42.03	80.39	30	82
T20Is	17	16	401	28.64	132.78	0	2

Although it is possible for someone to break RIcky Ponting’s batting records, his captaincy records will continue to be exceptional and continue to challenge all players to raise their game. The Australian mentality exhibited today, to a large extent, stems from the work of Rickey Ponting. In the Test format, he achieved six double centuries for Australia, proving the level of his consistency throughout his career.

Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lanka has produced some of the world’s best batsmen. Moreover, Kumar Sangakkara has made it to the top of the list for the most fifty-plus scores in every format. As a wicket-keeper batsman, he has been a leading player on the field helping Sri Lanka to an internationally dominant position. Additionally, he helped Sri Lanka reach the World Cup final in 2011, held in India.

It has now been over 10 years since Kumar Sangakkara has retired. No player from Sri Lanka has come close to breaking any of his records. He holds the record for the most runs scored by a Sri Lankan player in ODIs and continued to play for Sri Lanka until 2015 after stepping down from captaincy of ODIs and T20Is.

FORMAT	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	100s	50s
TESTS	134	233	12,400	57.40	54.19	38	52
ODIs	404	380	14,234	41.98	78.86	25	93
T20Is	56	53	1,382	31.40	119.55	0	8

Kumar Sangakkara was a member of the Sri Lanka national cricket team that won the 2014 T20 World Cup, marking their first time winning a T20 championship; however, he was also one of the few players from prior generations that played T20s. Kumar Sangakkara has been remarkable for how much he has performed in this short game, providing consistent scoring for the team.

The majority of Kumar Sangakkara’s records are set in Test match history. He holds the record for the most consecutive scores of more than 50 in Test cricket which is seven. He also holds the record for the highest third wicket partnership in Test cricket alongside Mahela Jayawardene at 624 runs.

Jacques Kallis

The one all-rounder in this list of players included in this section, who are all either wicket-keepers or batsmen, is Jacques Kallis, a South African legend.

His performances with both the bat and with the ball helped establish him as the premier performer for South Africa in all formats of the game due to Kallis’ record. Kallis’ overall contribution to the South African cricket team has been massive – making him one of the greatest all-rounders to ever play the game.

FORMAT	MATCHES	INNINGS	RUNS	AVERAGE	STRIKE RATE	100s	50s
TESTS	166	280	13,289	55.37	45.97	45	58
ODIs	328	314	11,579	44.36	72.89	17	86
T20Is	25	23	666	35.05	119.35	0	5

Kallis’ monumental contribution as a Test match batsman to South African Cricket is well documented with 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries. All teams that played against South Africa, because Kallis was one of the primary reasons South Africa had the ability to achieve dominance against every country they played against. Additionally, Kallis took wickets with his bowling, making him the preeminent all-rounder in the sport’s history.

The most Player of the Match Awards (23) were awarded to Jacques Kallis. He played a total of 166 Test matches during his career. No batsman on this list has been able to achieve this record.

Jacques Kallis dominated not just in Tests, but also in ODIs. He scored 17 centuries in ODIs as a middle-order batsman for South Africa. Kallis has the most international centuries scored by a player from South Africa, and also has numerous records with the ball.