5 pairs of batsmen who have scored the most runs together in the fourth innings

#2 Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting - 973 runs

Hayden and Ponting possess the best batting average among the top five combinations

Interestingly, Hayden was much more prolific in tandem with skipper Ricky Ponting in the fourth-innings rather than his long-time opening partner Justin Langer. The attacking Australian duo added 973 runs together at a remarkable average of 74.84. It is pertinent to note that they put on four century-plus partnerships and as many fifty-plus partnerships from just 18 innings.

In what was one of those rare cases of like forces making for captivating symbiosis, Hayden and Ponting consistently launched game-changing assaults from both ends. Their aggressive approach made was on display during the 2006 Sydney Test against South Africa. By adding 182 runs in just 33.2 overs, the left-right combination made mincemeat of a seemingly difficult run-chase.