Kamindu Mendis has enjoyed an extraordinary start to his Test career, racking up 809 runs in his first seven matches. It's put him close to the all-time record of the quickest player to 1,000 runs in the format.
Mendis scored his fourth Test century in Sri Lanka's first innings against New Zealand today (September 18). He was promoted from No.7 to No.5 for the game, a move which came after his average reached 77.22 from his previous Tests. Of his previous Test centuries, two came in the same match in Sylhet earlier this year against Bangladesh, before scoring his third against England at Old Trafford.
His run-scoring spree started after he was recalled to the side following a 20-month absence from the Sri Lanka Test side. He scored 61 runs in his only innings in the format before this year, but now has over 800 after playing 10 innings in six matches in 2024. His Test average now sits at 80.90 - only Don Bradman has a higher average batting at No.5 or lower for a minimum of 10 innings.
How close is Mendis to breaking the fastest to 1,000 Test runs record?
The record for the least innings taken to reach 1,000 runs in men's Tests is currently 12, and is jointly held by Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes. Thus, Mendis can only equal the record, with his next innings being his 12th. In order to reach 1,000 runs in his next innings, Mendis would have to score at least 191 runs.
Bradman sits in second place on the list having taken 13 innings to reach four figures, while Neil Harvey and Vinod Kambli both took 14. The closest contemporary Mendis could outshine on the list is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who took 16 innings to reach 1,000 runs, passing the milestone against England earlier this year.
There are other records Mendis could surpass, however. Mendis has passed 50 in at least one innings in every single Test match he has played. He made 61 on debut in 2022, before his twin centuries on return in Sylhet, 92* in the first innings of his next Test at Chattogram, 113 in the second innings of his next in Manchester, which was followed by 74 in the first innings at Lord's, 64 in the first innings at The Oval and now 114 in Galle.
6⃣9⃣5⃣ Runs in his first🔟 innings.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 17, 2024
Sri Lanka are set to promote Kamindu Mendis in the first New Zealand Test, thanks to his impressive run-scoring form.
Read here ➡️ https://t.co/uatAM0boq0 pic.twitter.com/NQ9uAfhPuW
The overall record for scoring 50 or more in at least one innings of consecutive matches is currently 12. It's jointly held by two players: AB de Villiers and Joe Root.
Update (September 27): Kamindu Mendis hit an unbeaten 182 in the first innings of the second New Zealand Test at Galle to reach the milestone in just his 13th Test innings, drawing him level with Bradman.
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