Not being out in a cricket match is a sign of defensive skills and calm mentality, which makes for a great cricketer. It has often been considered a highlight if a player scores numerous runs and emerges as the winner without losing his wicket.
Such cricketers are the perfect fit for test cricket, and most of them have gone on to be among the greatest in cricket history. These players are mostly found in such topics. However, timing and the batting order also play a key role in these situations.
Top 10 Players with the Most Not Outs in International Cricket History
As I have already mentioned above about our main focus, we will also list a short detail about the players and their iconic performances. You’ll be surprised to find the roles of most of these players, which will help you understand the timing and batting order point.
10) Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 94
Courtney Walsh is among the greatest legendary fast bowlers. The first to reach 500 test wickets and became the leading wicket-taker for some time. Walsh has played 337 matches and recorded a highest score of 30. Out of the 337 matches played, Walsh has remained unbeaten on 94 occasions, which is quite an achievement for a bowler.
9) Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) – 94
Chanderpaul is a legendary batsman with an unyielding style that constantly produces runs. That style gives him the natural advantage in fitting into the Test format. He has not been out 94 times in 454 games, with his highest not-out international score of 203 runs.
8) Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 97
A composed leader of the Sri Lankan team in the past, Angelo Mathews is a player with fine batting skills. Given his style of batting, he fit perfectly in the red-ball game. He is the third-highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in test cricket and has never been dismissed 97 times in 435 matches.
7) Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 97
Arguably one of the greatest all-rounders to ever grace the game, Kallis, in almost every format, has opened the batting, having 97 not-outs, with a highest score of 224. One of his famous moments has to be that 113 off 100 against Sri Lanka in the 1998 Champions Trophy.
6) Steve Waugh (Australia) – 104
Steve Waugh was a very able and dominant batsman and a successful captain. Under his reign, the Australian team was one of the strongest teams. With 200 runs being the highest score in 493 matches, he was able to remain not out 104 times.
5) Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 108
Chaminda is among the great left-arm bowlers of Sri Lanka and among the three bowlers that feature on this list. He is an outstanding bowler who can swing the ball both ways. Relegated to the lower order because of his role as a bowler in his team, which possibly explains the 108 not-outs. However, his highest score remains an unbeaten 100.
Also Read: Top 10 Bowlers With The Most LBW Dismissals in Test Cricket History
4) Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 113
Shaun Pollock is rightfully considered one of the greatest all-rounders South Africa has ever produced. Being an all-rounder, he has taken many wickets and scored many runs in Test and ODI cricket. Shaun stands as one of the top finishers with the highest score of 130 runs and 113 not outs.
3) Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 119
Muttiah Muralitharan is a former cricketer and one of the best bowlers from Sri Lanka and in the history of Test cricket. He is the only bowler to have 800 wickets in tests, ranking first on the list. Muralitharan, batting down at the end, has the benefit of 119 not-outs.
2) MS Dhoni (India) – 142
We all know that MS Dhoni is considered one of the cricketers, wicket-keepers and captains in the history of cricket. Under his captaincy, the Indian cricket team has won several major tournaments, where he has performed as an incredible finisher. His highest score clashes with Jacques Kallis at 224, and he has not been out 142 times. Dhoni ranks first with the most not-outs in ODI (84) and a record of 42 in T20I.
1) James Anderson (England) – 160
James Anderson is one of the greatest bowlers from England, excelling in record-breaking performances in test cricket. His most iconic performance is a 7/42 against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2017. Anderson ranks first on the list with 160 not-outs, out of which 114 are from Test cricket only, being the highest record in the format.