3 Players with most international runs at No. 3

Batting at no. 3 is one of the most important roles in cricket. Whether it’s about walking in early after an opening wicket or building on a good start from the opening batters, the number three player always has a big responsibility on his shoulders.

Over the years, there have been several great players who’ve taken on the role of a number three batter and mastered scoring runs at one of the most difficult batting positions in cricket. Here’s a list of the top three players with the most international runs while batting at No. 3:

1. Ricky Ponting (22,869 runs)

Unsurprisingly, legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting tops the list, having been every team’s worst nightmare in his 17-year-long career. Ponting scored a remarkable 22,869 runs in 540 innings while batting at No. 3 at an average of 46.95.

He always led from the front, being one of the most dominant batters of his generation, playing a key role in Australia's success across formats. Ponting’s ability to pounce on the bowlers with his wide array of strokes made him stand out from the rest.

2. Kumar Sangakkara (22,011 runs)

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara takes the second spot with 22,011 runs in 468 innings at No. 3, having an average of 51.18. Sangakkara was a regular mainstay in the Sri Lankan side for 15 years, making invaluable contributions to his team’s success with his bat.

The southpaw is one of the most elegant batters to have ever played the game and earned plaudits for his classical strokeplay and remarkable consistency.

3. Kane Williamson (16,745 runs)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson takes the third spot with 16,745 runs from 361 innings at No. 3. After getting off to a nightmarish start to his international career, scoring back-to-back ducks, Williamson announced his arrival with a magnificent hundred in his fourth ODI.

He further slammed a century on his Test debut against India in Ahmedabad and went on to become the most prolific batter to ever play for New Zealand.