10 great batsmen who have excellent numbers in Tests but middling averages in ODIs

Players who are successful in Tests are regarded as better players compared to ODIs. Test matches test your technique and temperament, but in ODIs, the pitches, more often than not, favor the batsmen. On the other hand, ODIs are all about how quickly one can put the runs on the board, but in Tests, you get more time to settle in.

Some players have good numbers in Tests, some have good numbers in ODIs, and there are players who are equally good in both formats. For example, Alastair Cook has excellent numbers in Tests, Michael Bevan has excellent numbers in ODIs, and Sachin Tendulkar has excellent numbers in both formats.

In no particular order, let us take a look at 10 batting greats who average more than 40 in Tests but average in the early 30s in ODIs. This list contains plenty of iconic ODI batsmen as well as some of those who were unable to succeed in the 50-over format.

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#10 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman scored 8781 runs at an average of 45.97, including 17 hundreds in Tests. His epic 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata remains one of the greatest batting performances in the history of Test cricket. He won many such matches for India and mastered the art of batting with the tail.

He couldn't generate the same numbers in ODIs as he made only 2338 runs at an average of 30.76. Even though his overall numbers are not praiseworthy, he was excellent against Australia. He amassed 739 runs at an average of 46.18, including four centuries against the Kangaroos.

#9 Younis Khan

Younis Khan has better numbers than any other Pakistani in Tests

Younis Khan is the only Pakistan player to score 10000 runs in Tests. He scored 10099 runs at an average of 52.05, including 34 hundreds in the 5-day game.

He was a magnificent player in the fourth innings of a Test match. The former Pakistan captain made 1465 runs at an average of 50.51, with five centuries in the fourth innings.

He made 7249 runs at an average of 31.24 in ODIs, including seven hundreds. Scoring more than 7000 runs for the team is a good achievement, but the numbers are not that good compared to his exploits in Tests.

#8 Mahela Jayawardene

Jayawardene was a class player

Mahela Jayawardene is one among the few players, who have scored 10000 runs in both Tests and ODIs. The former Sri Lankan captain was the backbone of the island nation along with Kumar Sangakkara for a long time.

The classy right-hander scored 11814 runs in Tests at a stellar average of 49.84, including 34 centuries. Apart from scoring 374 against South Africa at Colombo in July 2006, he made six double hundreds.

In ODIs, he scored 12650 runs at an average of 33.37. He batted at all positions from 1 to 9. He was most effective at number four where he made 6947 runs at an average of 35.08.

#7 Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya is one of the greatest all-rounders in ODI history

Sanath Jayasuriya was an underrated all-rounder in ODIs. He scored 13430 runs at an average of 32.36 and a strike-rate of 91.20. He also picked up 323 wickets. He along with Romesh Kaluwitharana employed the attacking brand of cricket in the 1996 World Cup, which Sri Lanka won.

In Tests, the southpaw amassed 6973 runs at an average of 40.07, including 14 hundreds. He scored 340 in the world record total, 952-6 against India in Colombo in August 1997.

#6 Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh is among the greatest captains produced by Australia

Steve Waugh captained Australia in their golden era. Under him, they dominated all over the world across formats. He also led Australia to World Cup triumph in 1999.

In Tests, he scored 10927 runs at an average of 51.06, including 32 hundreds. At No.6, the right-hander made 6754 runs at a stellar average of 56.28.

He amassed 7569 runs at an average of 32.90 in ODIs. He could only score three centuries in the 50-over format.

#5 Justin Langer

Langer opened for Australia in era where they dominated world cricket

Justin Langer played 105 Tests for Australia and scored 7696 runs at a healthy average of 45.27. He hit 23 hundreds and 30 fifties.

Although the left-hander was one of the best openers in the longest format, he could only play 8 ODIs as Australia had Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, and Mathew Hayden in their ranks. He started his ODI career in 1994 and played his last match in 1997. He scored only 160 runs at an average of 32.

#4 Mohinder Amarnath

Mohinder Amarnath was one of the heroes of the 1983 World Cup

Mohinder Amarnath was the Man of the Match in the semi-final and final of the 1983 World Cup, which India won. He, however, had a better career in Tests.

The right-hander scored 4378 runs at an average of 42.50 in Tests, including 11 tons. He performed at his best away from home. He scored 3008 runs at an excellent average of 51.86 in conditions that are alien to him.

In ODIs, he made 1924 runs at an average of 30.53. He scored only two hundreds in the 85-match career.

#3 Allan Border

Allan Border stood as an embodiment of grit and determination

Allan Border scored 11174 runs at an average of 50.56 in Tests. He hit 27 hundreds and 63 fifties. He held the world record of highest run-getter in the longest format for many years until Brian Lara surpassed him.

Apart from an illustrious Test career, Border played 273 ODIs and scored 6524 runs at an average of 30.62. He, however, could only smash three centuries.

#2 Daryll Cullinan

Daryll Cullinan

Daryll Cullinan was the lynch-pin of the SA batting line up from the early to mid 1990s. He scored 4554 runs in Tests at a healthy average of 44.21, including 14 hundreds. He made an unbeaten 273 against New Zealand at Auckland in 1999.

In ODIs, he amassed 3860 runs at an average of 32.99. He hit three centuries and 20 fifties in his 7-year-career.

#1 Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor was an opening batsman and a former captain of Australia. He scored 7525 runs at an average of 43.49, including 19 hundreds in Tests. He gave many solid starts for the Aussies.

He didn't have a great career in ODIs. The southpaw made 3514 runs at an average of 32.23 and a paltry strike-rate of 59.46 in the limited-overs format. Also, he could only manage a solitary century.