Cricket
Who is the Best No.11 Batsman in Test Cricket?
Test cricket is full of nuances, but the No.11 batsman provides an intriguing dimension. While often deemed a largely thankless task, the most valuable tail-enders tend to dig in deep, and surviving to the end of stumps remains the ultimate goal. Tail-enders can be very stubborn, and they will protect the batsman at the non-striker’s end at any cost. There may be an element of luck involved, but the more audacious will display some flair and even engineer the odd pull shot for six. This just adds to the theatre, and it can frustrate the opposition who will be desperate to wrap things up.
James Anderson/ Getty Images
The top Test cricket No.11s up for debate are James Anderson, Glenn McGrath, Trent Boult, Murali Muralitharan, and Courtney Walsh. But who is the best No.11 batsman in Test cricket? SportsBoom has used multi-layered analysis to reach a definitive answer.
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Best No.11 Test Batsmen
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of the Test cricket batting records at No.11 with expert and media perception to provide a comprehensive ranking. This heralded the ‘SB Market Index’, an undiluted custom-built system which ensured results were transparent and outliers were minimised.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from the top 10 cricketing and sports sources measures how prominently each player is featured in discussions of the most famous, effective, or beloved tail-enders in Test history.
| Source Name | J M Anderson | T A Boult | M Muralitharan | G D McGrath | C A Walsh |
| Wisden – “The Art of the Tail-Ender” feature | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| ESPNcricinfo – “Most Stubborn No.11s” article | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cricbuzz – “Memorable Tail-Ender Partnerships” | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sky Sports Cricket – “Cricket’s Greatest Characters” | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| The Guardian – “Why we love the cricketing No.11” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cricket.com.au – “Australia’s Best Tail-Enders” | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit r/Cricket – Fan Polls on “Favorite No.11” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| The Cricketer – “Top 10 Bowling All-Rounders” | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TalkSPORT – “Cricket’s Unlikely Heroes” | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| CricTracker – “No.11s with the most Test runs” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Mentions | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
SB Score
| Player | Inns | Not Outs | Runs | 100s | Average | SB Score |
| T A Boult | 81 | 41 | 644 | 0 | 16.10 | 1.000 |
| M Muralitharan | 98 | 43 | 623 | 0 | 11.33 | 0.806 |
| J M Anderson | 188 | 99 | 687 | 0 | 7.72 | 0.873 |
| G D McGrath | 128 | 49 | 603 | 0 | 7.63 | 0.729 |
| C A Walsh | 122 | 48 | 553 | 0 | 7.47 | 0.697 |
This score is calculated based on three key metrics as a No.11 batsman: Batting Average (40% weightage), Number of Not Outs (30% weightage), and Total Runs Scored (30% weightage).
SB Market Index
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | J M Anderson | 0.873 | 8 | 6.575 |
| 2 | G D McGrath | 0.729 | 8 | 6.546 |
| 3 | C A Walsh | 0.697 | 7 | 5.739 |
| 4 | T A Boult | 1.000 | 6 | 5.000 |
| 5 | M Muralitharan | 0.806 | 6 | 4.961 |
The Kings of the Tail: Anderson and McGrath
One of the greatest swing bowlers of all time, James Anderson’s batting often left much to be desired. However, he spent more time at the crease batting at No.11 than any other player on this list which pays testament to his longevity and perseverance.
A high score of 81 came in a memorable last wicket stand with Joe Root against India in 2014, and Anderson topped our ‘SB Market Index’. This was driven by a near-perfect ‘SB Score’ and ‘Industry Insights’ score.
Similarly, Glenn McGrath, who was once mocked for his comical batting, counteracted his lack of discernible skill with incredible resilience. Ranked among the best Australian bowlers of all time, the wily McGrath produced one of the greatest tail-ender batting Test cameos when he smacked a shock 61 against New Zealand. His average might not have been impressive, but his excellent ‘SB Score’ and ‘Industry Insights’ score underlined his decorated career.
The Statistical Standout: Trent Boult
Although he might seem a bit of an anomaly, Trent Boult’s batting record showed he could do some damage, caressing the odd drive, and he was fearless. Statistically speaking, his batting average was phenomenal, and he notched up a Test fifty during his career.
While he returned a great ‘SB Score’, he was held back by a lower ‘Industry Insights’ score, placing him fourth in the ‘SB Market Index’.
The Beloved Nighthawks: Walsh and Muralitharan
Tall but often awkward at the crease, Courtney Walsh’s Test stats with the bat might not sound impressive, given his career-best was 30. Nevertheless, he often frustrated the opposition with his ability to absorb deliveries, including bouncers, and he had a knack for hanging around to support the more competent West Indies batsmen. A high expert rating coupled with a decent ‘SB Score’ highlighted his importance to the cause.
Meanwhile, as holder of the highest Test wickets taken, Muttiah Muralitharan’s batting record illustrated he made a solid number of runs (623) at No.11. While there were some hard-luck stories during his career, statistically he gained a strong ‘SB Score’, but he was pulled down slightly by his ‘Industry Insights’ score.
Conclusion on Test Cricket’s Unlikely Heroes
In summary, our comprehensive model illustrated Glenn McGrath’s nightwatchman skills were rather canny. There wasn’t too much separating him and James Anderson, who often defied many with his stands wielding the willow, as our top-rated No.11 batsmen.
While the players mentioned on this list had rudimentary batting skills, they compensated for this with their grit and ability to entertain the crowds. If anything, the role of the No.11 batter has often been underappreciated. After all, every run or minute spent at the crease counts for something!
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.