Wicket-keepers with the most Test runs in an English summer
England's star wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith couldn't have hoped for a better start in Test cricket. The dasher scored an impressive half-century on Day 3 of the third Test against Sri Lanka at Kennington Oval, London. The 24-year-old cricketer scored a rapid 50-ball 67, bailing his team out of trouble. Here we look at the keepers with the most Test runs in an English summer.
753 - Jonny Bairstow, 2016
Jonny Bairstow was at the peak of his powers in the 2016 home summer. As per ESPNcricinfo, he played seven Test matches that season, accumulating as many as 753 runs at a stunning average of 75.30. The tally includes six fifty-plus scores, including two centuries. Notably, Bairstow played three games against SL and four against Pakistan in the 2016 summer.
499 - Alec Stewart, 1998
Arguably England's finest keeper-batter in the history of red-ball cricket, Alec Stewart was bound to be on this elite list. He was in stunning form in the 1998 home summer as he hammered 499 runs across six matches at 45.36 (100: 1, 50: 1). Stewart's 156 against South Africa in Manchester was the highlight of his summer campaign.
487 - Jamie Smith, 2024
Smith is next on this list as the dasher has been exceptional since making his maiden Test appearance against West Indies at the start of England's 2024 summer team. In six matches this summer, Smith has scored 487 runs at 48.70. The 67 against Sri Lanka was his 3rd fifty. He has also scored a century in England whites.
450- Alec Stewart, 2002
Stewart enjoyed a memorable time in the 2002 English summer as well. He played seven matches in the season and scored 450 runs at a terrific average of 56.25. The tally includes two fifties and a century. Notably, he played three games against Sri Lanka and four against India that season. Stewart scored a match-winning 123 against Sri Lanka in Manchester.
