In cricket, the norm is that batters are expected to score the bulk of the team’s runs, and any tally of runs from the lower order is considered an added bonus for the batting side. However, with time, the tailenders or lower-order batters from most of the sides have improved their batting skills and contributed to the team’s cause.
These may not be even a 50+ score, but the 20 or 30 handy runs while coming late in the order and frustrating the opposition, especially in Test cricket, are a boost to the total.
So here are 10 such players who have never scored a half-century but have a decent amount of runs in their Test career with the willow.
Most Runs without a Half-Century in Test
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Lyon (AUS) | 171 | 1595 | 12.86 | 47 |
| Kemar Roach (WI) | 136 | 1286 | 11.90 | 41 |
| Kagiso Rabada (SA) | 106 | 1030 | 11.97 | 47 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 120 | 1010 | 10.20 | 45 |
| Fred Trueman (ENG) | 85 | 981 | 13.81 | 39* |
| Morne Morkel (SA) | 104 | 944 | 11.65 | 40 |
| Craig McDermott (AUS) | 90 | 940 | 12.20 | 42* |
| Derek Underwood (ENG) | 116 | 937 | 11.56 | 45* |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 185 | 936 | 7.54 | 30* |
| Suranga Lakmal (SL) | 109 | 934 | 11.11 | 42 |
Key Stats
43: The number of ducks accumulated by the legendary pacer Courtney Walsh with the bat. This is the most by a batsman in Test cricket, and quite astonishingly, Walsh’s career-best score (30) is less than the number of ducks he scored. (Check out which player has the most ducks across formats here.)
7.54: The batting average of Walsh is the lowest among the players with 500+ runs and no fifty. Only Glenn McGrath (641), with an average of 7.36, has a lower average for a batter with a minimum of 500 Test runs. Chris Martin’s batting average of 2.36 is the lowest for a batter with 100 or more Test runs. Fred Trueman’s 13.81 is the best when it comes to batters on the list.
1450: Nathan Lyon leads the pack with the most runs for a batter without a single Test half-century. Only 2 other batters (Kemar Roach and Waqar Younis) have scored over 1000+ Test runs and never scored a half-century.
