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Muthusamy’s heroic Test hundred vs India ignites best No. 7 batting shows: Check full list

Soumyajit Dutta

Batters with highest innings score at No. 7 in Test cricket [Source: Screengrab]Batters with highest innings score at No. 7 in Test cricket [Source: Screengrab]

Senuran Muthusamy just ravaged India with a mighty ton as he scripted a counterattacking fight for the visitors in the ongoing IND vs SA 2nd Test at Guwahati. After Wiaan Mulder's wicket, South Africa was poised at 201/5 at the end of 68 overs when Muthusamy came in to bat at No. 7.

While the traditional spinner scripted his maiden Test ton, he could have never been given the title of an all-rounder until today. Pairing up with Tony de Zorzi, Kyle and Marco Jansen, Muthusamy dominated India till Day 2 lunch, as the Proteas stood at a comfortable 428/7.

However, this was not the first time that a No. 7 batter scripted a heroic fate for his team. Since the inception of cricket, there have been cricketers who often surprised with their tail-ender counterattack for their team. Let's take a look at the five of them who had the highest Test innings score while coming to bat at No. 7 and below.

5) Adam Gilchrist - 204* runs

Three years after his Test debut, Adam 'Gilly' Gilchrist, the celebrated Australian wicketkeeper, came into bat at No. 7 during Australia's tour of South Africa in 2002.

In the first innings, as the visitors came in to bat, after Matthew Hayden's 122 at the top and Damien Martyn's 133, Gilchrist made an unbeaten 204 off 213 balls to rack up a total of 652 runs for Australia in the first innings. His innings was laced with 19 boundaries and 8 sixes.

At the No. 7 position, the wicketkeeper-batter amassed 3,948 runs from 100 Test innings while maintaining an average of 46.44 at a strike rate of 83.87.

4) Imtiaz Ahmed - 209 runs

Imtiaz Ahmed, one of the proud patriotic brand of cricketers who gave a fiery start to Pakistan cricket in the 1950s, etched a solid 209-run during the New Zealand tour of Pakistan in 1955.

After New Zealand etched a solid 348 in their first innings, Pakistan's top order faltered as they reeled at 5/87. After Ahmed came into the attack, Pakistan's first regular wicketkeeper-batter took up the mettle to script a massive comeback for the team. He played a mammoth knock of 209 runs consisting of 28 boundaries before being bowled out by Alex Moir.

However, Pakistan scored 561 runs in their reply and won the match by 4 wickets, with Ahmed going out for a duck in the next innings while batting at No. 3.

3) Denis Atkinson - 219 runs

A regular Test player for the West Indies in the 1950s, Denis Atkinson played his career's highest knock of 219 runs against Australia in the 4th Test in the year 1955.

Replying to Australia’s 668, West Indies suffered an early collapse as Dennis entered after the team was struggling at 143/5. From there, Atkinson steered the West Indies ship to 504 runs before getting dismissed by Ian Johnson. 

Atkinson’s innings was laced with 29 boundaries and one six. As a result, the West Indies piled up a total of 510 runs in reply.

2) Wasim Akram - 257* runs

Wasim Akram, the legendary Pakistan pacer, played a career-defining knock in the whites while replying to Zimbabwe’s 375 during Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan in 1996. Pakistan saw a steady start from the openers, but the middle order collapsed. 

However, Wasim Akram stepped in at No. 7 and played a captain’s knock of 257 unbeaten runs from 363 balls to take Pakistan to 553. Zimbabwe also scripted a fightback to put up 241 on board as the match eventually ended in a draw.

1) Sir Don Bradman - 270 runs

During the early years of cricket, legendary Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, the then team’s captain, came in to bat in the second innings at number seven and recorded the highest score in Test cricket by a batter batting at number seven or below. 

During England’s tour of Australia in 1937, in the third Test, Bradman batted at number three in the first innings and managed only 13 runs. England replied with 76 runs, after which Australia launched a strong counterattack. 

After the top order faltered, Jack Fingleton and Donald Bradman stitched a solid partnership to take Australia to 564. Bradman scored 270 from 375 balls, hitting 22 boundaries at a strike rate of 72. His dominance helped Australia secure a massive lead, and the team eventually won the match by 365 runs.