Cricket Statistics: Does Pakistan's Younis Khan Sit Among Test Cricket's Greats?

Younis Khan struck a serene hundred on the opening day of Pakistan's first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, hauling the visitors away from disaster and into a strong position by stumps. 

After arriving at the crease at 19-2 following the wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and Khurram Manzoor, Younis then watched Azhar Ali fall just prior to the lunch interval to leave Pakistan on the precipice at 56-3. 

Thereafter, however, the 36-year-old controlled the day's play, striking 11 fours and a six to cruise to an unbeaten 133, enjoying assistance from Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq as the tourists reached 261-4 when bad light stopped play in the dying minutes of the afternoon. 

Given the volatility of Pakistan's batting lineup—a phrase so regularly used it's become a cliche in cricket's vernacular—Younis' calmly defiant performance was sublime. 

And it wasn't the first time we've seen such a display. Interestingly, however, the veteran right-hander is rarely mentioned when discussing the finest Test players of his era. 

Perhaps due to his team's inconsistency or the ongoing absence of international cricket in his homeland or the turmoil that engulfed his captaincy or the ever-growing dominance (financially and politically) of England, Australia and India that has rendered Pakistan something of a second-tier cricketing nation, Younis' outstanding record has been overlooked, lost in the crowd. 

Eranga Jayawardena/Associated Press

At the very least, the prolific Pakistani is comfortably among the finest players ever to represent his nation at Test level.

In fact, with 7,532 runs, only Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq now sit ahead of him on the all-time run-scoring charts in the five-day game for Pakistan. By passing 131 on Wednesday, the right-hander moved ahead of former teammate Mohammad Yousuf. 

Player	Mat	Runs	Ave	HS	100s
Javed Miandad	124	8,832	52.57	280*	23
Inzamam-ul-Haq	119	8,829	50.16	329	25
Younis Khan	90	7,532	52.30	313	24
Mohammad Yousuf	90	7,530	52.29	223	24
Saleem Malik	103	5,768	43.69	237	15

Of course, Younis has never been as aesthetically pleasing as contemporaries such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis or Ricky Ponting.

But critiquing the appearance of the veteran's batting misses the point: He's been remarkably reliable despite his idiosyncratic style, a pillar of middle-order strength which Pakistan has built around for more than a decade.

Indeed, Younis has struck centuries in every country of the cricketing world bar Australia. Having thrived at home, in India, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, the former captain has quickly come to terms with Pakistan's adopted home in the UAE, excelling on the neutral turf in the twilight of his career as well. 

Country	Mat	Runs	Ave	HS	100s
in Australia	3	259	43.16	87	0
in Bangladesh	4	384	128.00	200*	2
in England	5	470	52.22	173	1
in India	6	768	76.80	267	3
in New Zealand	5	457	65.28	149*	1
in Pakistan	19	1,898	59.31	313	7
in South Africa	8	489	32.60	111	1
in Sri Lanka	13	827	45.94	133*	2
in UAE	17	1,258	44.92	153	5
in West Indies	5	211	23.44	106	1
in Zimbabwe	5	511	73.00	200*	1

The hallmark of an elite international batsman has always been the ability to score all around the globe, in varying conditions and against contrasting attacks.

Despite being consistently overlooked when discussing the game's finest, Younis has done exactly that.

	Mat	Runs	Ave	HS	100s
Home	19	1,898	59.31	313	7
Neutral	18	1,367	45.56	153	5
Away	53	4,267	52.03	267	12

Unquestionably, the characteristic that has defined him more than any other has been his resilience when faced with adversity. 

Not one to simply hammer opposing bowlers on lifeless, batsmen-friendly tracks, the Pakistani has made a habit of accumulating runs in the crunch. 

Indeed, Pakistan have lost just five of the 24 Tests in which Younis has reached three figures.

Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press

Most telling, of course, is the 36-year-old's glittering record in fourth innings.

Tied with Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Graeme Smith for the most hundreds in the final innings of a Test (4), Younis owns one of the game's finest ever records in the conditions that are typically most difficult for batsmen.  

Player	4th Inns	Runs	Ave	HS	100s
Geoffrey Boycott	34	1,234	58.76	128*	3
Sunil Gavaskar	33	1,398	58.25	221	4
Younis Khan	30	1,110	55.50	131*	4
Gordon Greenidge	38	1,383	53.19	214*	3
Graeme Smith	41	1,611	51.96	154*	4
Ricky Ponting	43	1,462	50.41	156	4
Matthew Hayden	39	1,287	49.50	101*	1
Kumar Sangakkara	31	1,119	46.62	192	2
Graham Gooch	29	1,121	44.84	133	3
Desmond Haynes	45	1,092	43.68	112*	2

On Wednesday, he once again displayed his propensity to thrive where others perish, rescuing Pakistan on yet another occasion. 

And given the strength of his Test record, perhaps Younis' name can be included when mentioning the roll-call of the game's finest batsmen. 

All statistics courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.