NZ vs ENG: Kane Williamson reaches 9000 Test runs in Christchurch

In the ongoing Test match in Christchurch between New Zealand and England, Kane Williamson reached 9,000 runs in Test cricket. By scoring his 26th run in the second innings, Williamson became the first New Zealand player to join the 9,000-run club.

 

This milestone came in his 182nd innings, making him the eighth fastest player in Test history to achieve 9,000 runs. Among his peers, Williamson is the second quickest of the so-called "Fab Four." Steve Smith leads the pack, having reached the mark in just 174 innings, while Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for the fewest innings, achieving the milestone in 172.     

Fastest players to reach 9000 Test runs
Player	Country	Innings
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	172
Steve Smith	Australia	174
Rahul Dravid	India	176
Brian Lara	West Indies	177
Ricky Ponting	Australia	177
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	178
Sachin Tendulkar	India	179
Kane Williamson	New Zealand	182
Younis Khan	Pakistan	184
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	188
Sunil Gavaskar	India	192

 

 

Joe Root and Virat Kohli took 196 and 197 innings, respectively, to reach 9,000 runs. Kohli, the former Indian captain, recently hit the mark during a Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Williamson’s rapid progress places him ahead of cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Younis Khan in the overall ranking of fastest to reach 9,000 runs.  Williamson's consistency in red ball cricket   

The 34-year-old former New Zealand captain has continued to demonstrate remarkable consistency in the second half of his Test career. Since 2017, Williamson has maintained an average over 50 in every calendar year, with a standout figure of more than 62 across 47 Test matches during this period.

 

Williamson’s overall Test batting average is approaching 55, placing him favorably among the members of the Fab Four. He currently leads Joe Root (50.81) and Virat Kohli (48.13), and is only slightly behind Steve Smith (56.40).