When Sangakkara was faster than Bradman
Batsmen who reached 2000 runs against a particular team in the fewest Test innings

Kumar Sangakkara went past 2000 runs against Pakistan in the Galle Test • AFP
Player | Opp | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KC Sangakkara (SL) | v Pak | 2002-2012 | 14 | 26 | 3 | 2029 | 230 | 88.21 | 8 | 7 |
SM Gavaskar (India) | v WI | 1971-1979 | 16 | 28 | 4 | 2004 | 220 | 83.50 | 10 | 6 |
BC Lara (WI) | v Eng | 1994-2000 | 18 | 28 | 2 | 2030 | 375 | 78.07 | 5 | 9 |
DG Bradman (Aus) | v Eng | 1928-1934 | 17 | 29 | 2 | 2275 | 334 | 84.25 | 8 | 5 |
IVA Richards (WI) | v Eng | 1976-1986 | 23 | 30 | 2 | 2019 | 291 | 72.10 | 7 | 7 |
H Sutcliffe (Eng) | v Aus | 1924-1932 | 19 | 31 | 3 | 2191 | 194 | 78.25 | 8 | 10 |
L Hutton (Eng) | v Aus | 1938-1953 | 19 | 34 | 6 | 2013 | 364 | 71.89 | 5 | 11 |
DCS Compton (Eng) | v SA | 1947-1956 | 20 | 34 | 1 | 2000 | 208 | 60.60 | 7 | 9 |
GS Sobers (WI) | v Eng | 1954-1966 | 20 | 34 | 3 | 2032 | 226 | 65.54 | 7 | 6 |
Javed Miandad (Pak) | v India | 1978-1989 | 25 | 35 | 6 | 2027 | 280* | 69.89 | 4 | 14 |
KF Barrington (Eng) | v Aus | 1961-1968 | 21 | 36 | 5 | 2016 | 256 | 65.03 | 5 | 13 |
SR Tendulkar (India) | v Eng | 1990-2008 | 23 | 36 | 3 | 2031 | 193 | 61.54 | 6 | 10 |
AR Morris (Aus) | v Eng | 1946-1954 | 21 | 37 | 2 | 2010 | 206 | 57.42 | 8 | 8 |
JH Kallis (SA) | v WI | 1998-2008 | 21 | 37 | 9 | 2073 | 177 | 74.03 | 7 | 11 |
RT Ponting (Aus) | v SA | 1997-2009 | 20 | 37 | 3 | 2018 | 143* | 59.35 | 8 | 10 |
DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | v Eng | 1998-2012 | 21 | 37 | 3 | 2038 | 213* | 59.94 | 8 | 8 |
WR Hammond (Eng) | v Aus | 1928-1936 | 22 | 38 | 3 | 2069 | 251 | 59.11 | 8 | 3 |
CH Lloyd (WI) | v India | 1966-1983 | 25 | 39 | 2 | 2042 | 242* | 55.18 | 6 | 11 |
JB Hobbs (Eng) | v Aus | 1908-1925 | 23 | 40 | 3 | 2151 | 187 | 58.13 | 8 | 8 |
WR Hammond (Eng) | v SA | 1927-1939 | 23 | 40 | 7 | 2024 | 181 | 61.33 | 5 | 14 |
AD Nourse (SA) | v Eng | 1935-1951 | 22 | 40 | 6 | 2016 | 208 | 59.29 | 7 | 9 |
S Chanderpaul (WI) | v India | 1994-2011 | 23 | 40 | 9 | 2038 | 140 | 65.74 | 7 | 10 |
Player | Opp | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IVA Richards (WI) | v Eng | 1976-1986 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 1009 | 189* | 100.90 | 3 | 6 |
DM Jones (Aus) | v NZ | 1986-1991 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 1005 | 107 | 62.81 | 2 | 9 |
G Kirsten (SA) | v India | 1995-2000 | 19 | 19 | 2 | 1030 | 115* | 60.58 | 3 | 7 |
BC Lara (WI) | v Aus | 1991-1997 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 1019 | 139 | 50.95 | 2 | 9 |
SR Tendulkar (India) | v Aus | 1991-1998 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 1119 | 143 | 55.95 | 4 | 6 |
SC Ganguly (India) | v SL | 1996-1999 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 1001 | 183 | 52.68 | 4 | 4 |
ML Hayden (Aus) | v India | 1994-2007 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 1040 | 126 | 54.73 | 3 | 5 |
ST Jayasuriya (SL) | v Ban | 1990-2009 | 21 | 20 | 2 | 1030 | 130 | 57.22 | 4 | 5 |
IVA Richards (WI) | v Aus | 1975-1984 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 1068 | 153* | 62.82 | 2 | 9 |
GA Gooch (Eng) | v Aus | 1979-1989 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 1080 | 136 | 54.00 | 4 | 7 |
SC Ganguly (India) | v SA | 1996-2001 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 1071 | 141* | 56.36 | 3 | 6 |
V Sehwag (India) | v NZ | 2001-2009 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 1028 | 130 | 51.40 | 5 | 3 |
CG Greenidge (WI) | v India | 1979-1989 | 23 | 22 | 3 | 1101 | 117 | 57.94 | 3 | 7 |
NJ Astle (NZ) | v India | 1995-2002 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 1029 | 120 | 46.77 | 4 | 5 |
BC Lara (WI) | v SL | 1992-2003 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 1093 | 169 | 54.65 | 2 | 9 |
Mohammad Yousuf (Pak) | v Zim | 1998-2008 | 24 | 22 | 8 | 1033 | 141* | 73.78 | 3 | 7 |
MS Dhoni (India) | v SL | 2005-2009 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 1029 | 183* | 64.31 | 1 | 8 |
JH Kallis (SA) | v NZ | 1996-2002 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 1010 | 111 | 59.41 | 3 | 7 |
G Kirsten (SA) | v Pak | 1994-2002 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 1042 | 118* | 57.88 | 2 | 8 |
Shoaib Malik (Pak) | v India | 2000-2006 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 1039 | 143 | 47.22 | 2 | 8 |
JH Kallis (SA) | v India | 1996-2006 | 25 | 23 | 7 | 1100 | 119* | 68.75 | 1 | 8 |
CH Gayle (WI) | v Zim | 2000-2007 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 1044 | 153* | 58.00 | 2 | 8 |
RR Sarwan (WI) | v India | 2001-2009 | 23 | 23 | 7 | 1028 | 115* | 64.25 | 1 | 8 |
Player | Opp | Span | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | 5 | 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M Muralitharan (SL) | v Eng | 1993-2007 | 14 | 5915 | 1976 | 102 | 9/65 | 16/220 | 19.37 | 7 | 4 |
M Muralitharan (SL) | v SA | 1993-2006 | 15 | 5908 | 2311 | 104 | 7/84 | 13/171 | 22.22 | 11 | 4 |
A Kumble (India) | v Aus | 1996-2008 | 16 | 5529 | 2831 | 103 | 8/141 | 13/181 | 27.48 | 10 | 2 |
CTB Turner (Aus) | v Eng | 1887-1895 | 17 | 5179 | 1670 | 101 | 7/43 | 12/87 | 16.53 | 11 | 2 |
SF Barnes (Eng) | v Aus | 1901-1912 | 17 | 5377 | 2166 | 101 | 7/60 | 13/163 | 21.44 | 11 | 1 |
TM Alderman (Aus) | v Eng | 1981-1991 | 17 | 4717 | 2117 | 100 | 6/47 | 10/151 | 21.17 | 11 | 1 |
RJ Hadlee (NZ) | v Aus | 1973-1986 | 18 | 4609 | 2104 | 101 | 9/52 | 15/123 | 20.83 | 10 | 2 |
MD Marshall (WI) | v Eng | 1980-1988 | 18 | 4106 | 1746 | 100 | 7/22 | 10/92 | 17.46 | 6 | 1 |
SK Warne (Aus) | v SA | 1993-2002 | 18 | 6130 | 2257 | 101 | 7/56 | 12/128 | 22.34 | 6 | 2 |
WJ O'Reilly (Aus) | v Eng | 1932-1938 | 19 | 7864 | 2587 | 102 | 7/54 | 11/129 | 25.36 | 8 | 3 |
AV Bedser (Eng) | v Aus | 1946-1953 | 19 | 6529 | 2616 | 100 | 7/44 | 14/99 | 26.16 | 7 | 2 |
DK Lillee (Aus) | v Eng | 1971-1979 | 19 | 5391 | 2115 | 102 | 6/26 | 11/165 | 20.73 | 7 | 2 |
CEL Ambrose (WI) | v Eng | 1988-1995 | 19 | 5075 | 1931 | 100 | 8/45 | 11/84 | 19.31 | 5 | 2 |
GD McGrath (Aus) | v Eng | 1994-2002 | 19 | 4499 | 2087 | 106 | 8/38 | 9/103 | 19.68 | 7 | 0 |
R Peel (Eng) | v Aus | 1884-1896 | 20 | 5216 | 1715 | 101 | 7/31 | 11/68 | 16.98 | 5 | 1 |
SK Warne (Aus) | v NZ | 1993-2005 | 20 | 5770 | 2511 | 103 | 6/31 | 9/67 | 24.37 | 3 | 0 |
JR Thomson (Aus) | v Eng | 1974-1985 | 21 | 4951 | 2418 | 100 | 6/46 | 9/105 | 24.18 | 5 | 0 |
SK Warne (Aus) | v Eng | 1993-2001 | 21 | 6365 | 2357 | 106 | 8/71 | 11/110 | 22.23 | 6 | 1 |
GD McGrath (Aus) | v WI | 1995-2005 | 21 | 4899 | 1941 | 101 | 6/17 | 10/27 | 19.21 | 8 | 2 |
CV Grimmett (Aus) | v Eng | 1925-1934 | 22 | 9164 | 3439 | 106 | 6/37 | 11/82 | 32.44 | 11 | 2 |
IT Botham (Eng) | v Aus | 1977-1982 | 22 | 5611 | 2591 | 100 | 6/78 | 11/176 | 25.91 | 7 | 2 |
CEL Ambrose (WI) | v Aus | 1988-1996 | 22 | 5428 | 2202 | 102 | 7/25 | 10/120 | 21.58 | 6 | 1 |
M Muralitharan (SL) | v India | 1993-2010 | 22 | 7020 | 3425 | 105 | 8/87 | 11/110 | 32.61 | 7 | 2 |
Player | Opp | Span | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | 5 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Waqar Younis (Pak) | v NZ | 1990-1996 | 20 | 993 | 608 | 50 | 6/30 | 12.16 | 4 | 2 |
Abdur Razzak (Ban) | v Zim | 2005-2010 | 24 | 1311 | 811 | 53 | 5/29 | 15.30 | 3 | 3 |
CEL Ambrose (WI) | v Pak | 1988-1993 | 25 | 1349 | 878 | 50 | 5/53 | 17.56 | 1 | 3 |
GD McGrath (Aus) | v NZ | 1993-2005 | 26 | 1345 | 951 | 50 | 5/37 | 19.02 | 1 | 2 |
B Lee (Aus) | v Eng | 2001-2009 | 26 | 1417 | 1104 | 50 | 5/30 | 22.08 | 3 | 1 |
CJ McDermott (Aus) | v WI | 1985-1993 | 27 | 1356 | 950 | 50 | 4/34 | 19.00 | 0 | 2 |
IR Bishop (WI) | v Pak | 1988-1997 | 27 | 1443 | 1103 | 50 | 5/25 | 22.06 | 2 | 3 |
SK Warne (Aus) | v WI | 1995-2001 | 27 | 1504 | 1045 | 50 | 5/33 | 20.90 | 1 | 2 |
B Lee (Aus) | v NZ | 2000-2009 | 27 | 1321 | 1062 | 51 | 5/42 | 20.82 | 1 | 0 |
Saqlain Mushtaq (Pak) | v India | 1996-1999 | 28 | 1405 | 1057 | 51 | 5/45 | 20.72 | 1 | 2 |
Waqar Younis (Pak) | v SA | 1993-2002 | 29 | 1585 | 1309 | 52 | 5/25 | 25.17 | 2 | 2 |
J Srinath (India) | v NZ | 1992-2003 | 29 | 1538 | 1021 | 50 | 4/23 | 20.42 | 0 | 2 |
D Gough (Eng) | v SA | 1994-2005 | 29 | 1699 | 1084 | 51 | 4/29 | 21.25 | 0 | 3 |
M Muralitharan (SL) | v Zim | 1993-2008 | 29 | 1472 | 828 | 54 | 5/23 | 15.33 | 2 | 4 |
B Lee (Aus) | v India | 2000-2009 | 29 | 1383 | 1035 | 50 | 5/27 | 20.70 | 4 | 0 |
J Garner (WI) | v Aus | 1978-1987 | 30 | 1630 | 924 | 50 | 5/31 | 18.48 | 1 | 1 |
CEL Ambrose (WI) | v Aus | 1988-1996 | 30 | 1577 | 919 | 50 | 5/17 | 18.38 | 3 | 0 |
Waqar Younis (Pak) | v SL | 1989-1996 | 30 | 1463 | 1085 | 50 | 6/26 | 21.70 | 2 | 2 |
Wasim Akram (Pak) | v NZ | 1984-2001 | 30 | 1421 | 847 | 51 | 5/19 | 16.60 | 1 | 2 |
M Muralitharan (SL) | v NZ | 1994-2006 | 30 | 1716 | 1035 | 50 | 5/9 | 20.70 | 2 | 0 |
Travis Basevi is a cricket statistician and UK Senior Programmer for ESPNcricinfo and other ESPN sports websites. George Binoy is an Assistant Editor at ESPNcricinfo