Stats: Kraigg Brathwaite almost breaks 138-year-old record

Brathwaite almost broke a record that has stood since the first Test in 1877

Although West Indies lost by an innings and 212 runs to Australia on day three of the Hobart Test, opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who top scored with 94, almost broke a 138-year-old record set by Australia’s Charles Bannerman.

West Indies were bowled out for 223 earlier on day three, in response to Australia’s 583/4 declared. Darren Bravo completed his seventh Test century, but the Windies lost their last four wickets on day three for just 16 runs and were asked to bat again.

They couldn’t even manage to better their first innings score at the second time of asking, as the visitors were bundled out for 148, thereby giving Australia their 87th innings victory in Tests.

Bannerman holds the record for highest percentage of runs in a completed Test innings, which he set in the first-ever Test played between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1877. The Aussie opener scored an unbeaten 165, which accounted for 67.34 % of his team’s total of 245.

Curiously, of the top five batsmen with the highest percentage of runs in an innings, four of the matches involve Australia.

Although more than a century has passed and over 2,000 Tests have been played, Bannerman’s record still stands, but it came under threat during Brathwaite’s innings. In the end though Brathwaite’s 94 constituted 63.51 % of the visitors’ score, enough to give him fourth place on the list.

The opener’s innings, only just edged out another West Indian opener’s knock from fourth place. Gordon Greenidge, previously held the fourth-highest percentage of runs, for his 134 against England in Manchester in 1976, which was 63.50% of their score of 211.

The batsman with the second-highest percentage of runs in an innings is another Australian opener. Michael Slater’s 123 against England in Sydney was 66.84% of the runs scored by Australia in the third innings.

Third on the list is India’s VVS Laxman, the only non-opener in the top five. Although India were bowled out for 261 against Australia in the 2000 Sydney Test, the right hander’s 167 constituted 63.98 % of the total runs scored by the visitors.

Here is a list of the top five batsmen with the highest percentage of runs in a completed Test innings

Player	Score	Team score	% of runs scored	Year
Charles Bannerman (AUS)	165*	245	67.34	1877
Michael Slater (AUS)	123	186	66.84	1999
VVS Laxman (IND)	167	261	63.98	2000
Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)	94	148	63.51	2015
Gordon Greenidge (WI)	134	211	63.50	1976