Cricket
Setting the Tone: A Data-Driven Look at Test Cricket’s Ever Opening Partnerships
Opening partnerships in Test cricket are critical. It involves high levels of concentration to fend off the new ball, blunting the opposition’s esteemed attack before providing the platform for a substantial team total. Effective Test opening pairs can expose weaknesses and pick gaps in the field to keep the run rate ticking over. The underlying traits of the greatest Test openers in history had an innate understanding of each other’s game, dug in deep when required, and boasted complementary styles to compile meaningful stands.
England captain Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook leave the field//Getty Images
SportsBoom has celebrated the feats of legendary Test openers by employing a two-part analysis: an ‘SB Score’ based on key partnerships statistics, such as runs and averages, and then unpacking ‘Industry Insights’ reflecting expert and media consensus, culminating in a final ‘SB Market Index’.
The ’SB Market Index’ is designed to drive accurate and transparent results. The model we have chosen should pinpoint the most effective Test opening partnership from this group.
‘SB Market Index’ Calculation & Result
| Rank | Partnership | SB Score (Value) | SB (Weighted 20%) | Industry Insights (Value) | Industry (Weighted 80%) | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Greenidge & Haynes (WI) | 0.95040 | 0.19008 | 5 | 4.0 | 4.19008 |
| 2 | Gambhir & Sehwag (IND) | 0.84168 | 0.168336 | 4 | 3.2 | 3.368336 |
| 3 | Hayden & Langer (AUS) | 0.93062 | 0.186124 | 3 | 2.4 | 2.586124 |
| 4 | Cook & Strauss (ENG) | 0.75799 | 0.151598 | 3 | 2.4 | 2.551598 |
| 5 | Atapattu & Jayasuriya (SL) | 0.70262 | 0.140524 | 3 | 2.4 | 2.540524 |
The Statistical Foundation – The ‘SB Score’ (Partnership Effectiveness)
Our ‘SB Score’ evaluates the iconic Test cricket opening batsmen duos. They are judged on three core metrics of success: Partnership Average, Total Partnership Runs, and the Number of Century Partnerships.
Core Test Opening Batting Partnerships Statistics
| Partnership | Inns | NO | Runs | Ave | 100s |
| CG Greenidge, DL Haynes | 148 | 11 | 6482 | 47.31 | 16 |
| ML Hayden, JL Langer (AUS) | 113 | 4 | 5655 | 51.88 | 14 |
| AN Cook, AJ Strauss (ENG) | 117 | 2 | 4711 | 40.96 | 12 |
| MS Atapattu, ST Jayasuriya (SL) | 118 | 7 | 4469 | 40.26 | 9 |
| G Gambhir, V Sehwag (IND) | 87 | 3 | 4412 | 52.52 | 11 |
‘SB Score Methodology’ Explained
The ‘SB Scores’ for the top Test opening partnerships were weighted as follows, with raw stats normalized before weighting:
Partnership Average: 50% (A prime indicator of consistency per dismissals as a pair).
Total Partnership Runs: 30% (Indicates the overall volume and impact of runs scored).
Century Partnerships 100s: 20% (Explores the ability of a pair to put on match-defining stands with big knocks).
The ‘SB Score’ Result
| Rank | Partnership | ‘SB Score’ |
| 1 | Greenidge & Haynes (WI) | 0.95040 |
| 2 | Hayden & Langer (AUS) | 0.93062 |
| 3 | Gambhir & Sehwag (IND) | 0.84168 |
| 4 | Cook & Strauss (ENG) | 0.75799 |
| 5 | Atapattu & Jayasuriya (SL) | 0.70262 |
Interpreting this ‘SB Score’
The West Indian legends Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (SB Score: 0.95040) top our statistical model, driven by their leading totals for partnership runs and century stands, complemented by a very strong average.
Australia’s Matthew Hayden & Justin Langer (SB Score: 0.93062) follow closely, with an excellent partnership average and high volume of runs and century stands.
Meanwhile, India’s Gautam Gambhir & Virender Sehwag impressed with the highest partnership average in this group, boosting their SB Score significantly.
The Expert & Media View – ‘Industry Insights’ on Opening Pairs
Beyond the statistics of Test cricket partnership records, how are these partnership remembered and rated by experts and prominent cricket media?
‘Industry Insights’ Methodology Explained
This score aggregates views from surveyed expert opinions and media analysis, reflecting which pair is more frequently lauded as among the ‘greatest Test opening pairs’ or ranked higher in historical comparisons.
‘Industry Insights’ Scorecard
| Partnership | ‘Industry Insights’ Points |
| Greenidge & Haynes (WI) | 5 |
| Gambhir & Sehwag (IND) | 4 |
| Hayden & Langer (AUS) | 3 |
| Cook & Strauss (ENG) | 3 |
| Atapattu & Jayasuriya (SL) | 3 |
Interpreting the ‘Industry Insights’
In terms of ‘Industry Insights’, Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (5 Points) also lead, reflecting their widespread historical acclaim. The Indian duo of Gautam Gambhir & Virender Sehwag (4 Points) are also highly regarded by the surveyed sources.
The Combined Perspective – The ‘SB Market Index’
Fusing their partnership statistics with broader expert/media perception gives our final ‘SB Market Index’.
‘SB Market Index’ Methodology Explained
The ‘SB Market Index’ is calculated using the following weights:
- ‘Industry Insights Score’ (80% Weightage)
- ‘SB Score’ (20% Weightage)
The ‘SB Market Index Verdict’ (Based on this Final Model)
Our multi-layered analysis, culminating in the ‘SB Market Index’ which heavily weights ‘Industry Insights’ (80%), firmly positions the West Indian duo of Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (SB Market Index: 4.190) as the greatest Test opening pair among this elite group.
The Contenders: A Snapshot of Iconic Opening Duos
Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes (WI): The Greenidge Haynes partnership stats exemplified this was a destructive duo, dismantling bowling attacks with ease, and 16 centuries would suggest as much. A joy to watch in full flow!
Matthew Hayden & Justin Langer (AUS): An aggressive and gritty duo, Matthew Hayden was one of the greatest left-handed batsmen. Along with Justin Langer, they formed the bedrock of the successful Australian side who dominated the Ashes in the early 2000s.
Alastair Cook & Andrew Strauss (ENG): A calming presence at the top of the Cook Strauss England dynamic worked perfectly. They knew when to dig deep as well as put their foot on the accelerator to accumulate big totals.
Marvan Atapattu & Sanath Jayasuriya (SL): Despite their contrasting styles with Atapattu quietly accumulating runs with Jayasuriya acting as the explosive aggressor, both left a significant mark and achieved cult status for Sri Lanka.
Gautam Gambhir & Virender Sehwag (IND): Gambhir and Sehwag as Test openers were highly dynamic as a pair. Sehwag was one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world given his extraordinary hand-eye coordination and minimum footwork, while Gambhir’s doggedness made him the perfect foil.
Conclusion & Disclaimer
Greenidge & Haynes’s top-ranking is consistently supported by their leading ‘SB Score’ (driven by most runs and century partnerships) and the highest ‘Industry Insights’ score, making a compelling case for their supremacy.
Gambhir & Sehwag’s dynamic approach and high partnership average see them rank second, strongly backed by expert opinion. Hayden & Langer’s record gave them a strong ‘SB Score’, but they are ranked third due to a slightly lower Industry Insights score in this sample.
All these pairs left an indelible mark on Test cricket, mastering the art of opening the bat with distinction.
Disclaimer: This analysis uses verified career partnership statistics and a specific weighted SB Score model, combined with surveyed 'Industry Insights'. Different methodologies, weightings, or sources could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.
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.