Batters with top strike rates: There is growing chatter around strike rates even in Test cricket. Players like Harry Brook score in excess of 100 with unbelievable consistency. Batters look to counter the challenges in Test cricket with double the aggression. This has led to increase in batting strike rates, especially in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 

We look at batters with top strike rates in Tests:

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[Qualification criteria – 1,000 runs]

#10 Joe Root – 57.79

He was England’s lone warrior with the bat until the side took the ‘Bazball’ approach in Tests. Joe Root has scored 11 centuries so far in WTC. He is miles ahead in terms of batters piling runs (3,575 runs) in the championship. Root has also managed to strike at 57.79.

#9 Litton Das – 58.22

He is the only Bangladeshi batter on this list. Litton Das’s refreshing approach in Tests has helped Bangladesh transfer pressure back onto the opposition. He has scored 1,441 runs in 19 Tests across 34 innings at an average of 43.66. Das’s strike rate of 58.22 makes for good reading.

#8 Zak Crawley – 58.67

There were many doubts surrounding his temperament at the Test level. England though persisted with Zak Crawley. He scored 1,576 runs in 28 Tests across 52 innings at a mediocre average of 30.90. His strike rate of 58.67 though is quite good.

#7 Ben Stokes – 59.94

He is the trailblazer of the Test format currently. Ben Stokes has completely led from the front when it comes to all-out aggression. He has scored 2,305 runs in 35 Tests at an average of 39.06. Stokes is another England player whose strike rate hovers close to 60 (59.94).

#6 Ollie Pope – 59.98

He has now come to own the number 3 spot for England in Tests. Ollie Pope has matched consistency with aggression beautifully. He has scored 1,478 runs in 27 Tests at an average of 33.59. His strike rate of 59.98 is eerily similar to that of Stokes.

#5 David Warner – 60.97

He is now on the final leg of his Test career. But David Warner has had his moments in WTC. He even scored a triple century in the first leg of the cycle. Warner has scored 1,795 runs in 29 Tests at an average of 38.19. He is one of the top five batters with a strike rate in excess of 60 (60.97).

#4 Niroshan Dickwella – 61.52

He might seem a surprising entry on the charts. Niroshan Dickwella just makes the cut (1,060 runs) to this list. He is known to bat in an aggressive fashion no matter what the situation of the game. His strike rate of 61.52 earns him a fourth spot on this list.

#3 Jonny Bairstow – 62.79

It was Jonny Bairstow who started England’s Bazball era. His counterattack post-Tea against New Zealand bowlers remains one of the defining moments of English summer. Bairstow has accumulated 1,676 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 38.97. His strike rate of 62.79 is impressive. 

#2 Travis Head – 67.34

He showed glimpses of his attacking range in the first 12 overs of the second innings in Delhi. Travis Head is a transformed batsman in his new avatar. He was the player of the series in the 2021-22 Ashes. Head has scored 1,518 runs in 26 Tests at an average of 42.16. His strike rate of 67.34 is brilliant!

#1 Rishabh Pant – 73.56

He is the quintessential Bazball player who has won Tests all on his own. Rishabh Pant’s aggression has been his biggest ally. He has scored 1,575 runs in 24 Tests at an average of 41.44. Pant has smashed 38 sixes in WTC. His strike rate of 73.56 is the highest among batters who have scored more than 1,000 runs in Tests.