Every Nation's Top Run Scorer in All T20 Cricket So Far

Who is England's leading run scorer in all Twenty20 cricket? How about Australia's top run-maker in the sport's shortest format? Care to take a guess at South Africa's?

As T20 cricket continues on its merry path to world domination, the record books are constantly being updated, and the questions in the opening sentence are trickier than they seem.

But fear not, read on to discover the answers and also profiles for every major cricket-playing nation's top run scorer in T20 cricket so far.

Australia: Brad Hodge

Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press

Innings: 208

Runs: 6,085

Average: 36.65

Strike rate: 130.71

Despite boasting incredible statistics across all formats of the game, including an average of 55.88 over six Tests, Brad Hodge is best-known for being a consummate T20 batsman.

The Aussie's calm thinking and ability to pick the gaps or clear the ropes as required were still good enough to see him play for his country in the 2014 ICC World T20 competition.

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan

A.M. Ahad/Associated Press

Innings: 128

Runs: 2,331

Average: 21.00

Strike rate: 130.00

Some years ago, Tamim Iqbal was the biggest thing in Bangladeshi cricket, but the dashing opening has been usurped by the ultra-talented Shakib Al Hasan.

The 27-year-old, who is currently banned from international duty, has blasted more runs than any of his compatriots, despite often batting fairly low down the order. 

Throw in his 172 wickets from 140 games and it's no wonder the world's T20 franchises are regularly knocking at his door.

England: Owais Shah

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Innings: 200

Runs: 5,096

Average: 33.52

Strike rate: 125.33

Hands up if you guessed Kevin Pietersen would be the leading English T20 run scorer of all time? Alas, Owais Shah, who has scored over 5,000 runs for 14 different teams, tops the list.

The 35-year-old's tally of 17 international caps in the 20-over format suggest he didn't make the grade at that level, but others world argue he never received a settled run in the side.

India: Suresh Raina

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Innings: 171

Runs: 4,905

Average: 34.54

Strike rate: 140.74

Despite the likes of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma seemingly scoring T20 runs for fun down the years, none of them have plundered more than their compatriot, Suresh Raina.

At the age of just 27, the swashbuckling left-hander has 32 scores of 50 or more and has been tipped as a future India captain in the white-ball formats.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum

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Innings: 189

Runs: 5,443

Average: 32.20

Strike rate: 133.86

Don't be late to the ground when Brendon McCullum is opening the batting in T20 cricket as, more often than not, the Kiwi likes to put bat to ball.

The 32-year-old's blistering 158 not out in the first-ever IPL match put his name in lights, and he has remained a sought-after signature in the annual auction.

Pakistan: Shoaib Malik

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Innings: 165

Runs: 4,484

Average: 38.00

Strike rate: 121.58

Shoaib Malik has been one of T20 cricket's most consistent performers, representing numerous teams and scoring more runs than any other Pakistani batsman, since the ECB gave birth to the format in 2003.

Capable of opening the batting, shoring up the middle order, finishing games off or even delivering miserly on overs with his nagging off breaks, the 32-year-old is a useful player to have around.

South Africa: JP Duminy

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Innings: 161

Runs: 4,214

Average: 37.62

Strike rate: 121.72

A somewhat surprising entry to the chart is JP Duminy who remains the highest T20 run scorer hailing from South Africa, comfortably ahead of the likes of Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis.

While his inconsistency can infuriate fans at times, the left-hander has the ability to go berserk, changing the pattern of games in just a few overs.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene

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Innings: 165

Runs: 4,051

Average: 28.73

Strike rate: 129.46

There can't be many Sri Lankan batting records that the legendary Mahela Jayawardene doesn't own and being his country's leading T20 run scorer is another.

While possessing a classical style of play, more suited for picking off the bad balls, the 37-year-old has modified his game to become a major threat in cricket's shortest format.

West Indies: Chris Gayle

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Innings: 181

Runs: 6,551

Average: 41.72

Strike rate: 146.03

A quick glance at the statistics show what an incredible player Chris Gayle has been in T20 cricket, managing to maintain a stunning average across 181 innings.

Also, the Jamaican's six-count currently stands at 459—139 more than his nearest rival, Kieron Pollard—and it is no surprise that no other player, West Indian or otherwise, has scored more runs in the format.

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Innings: 85

Runs: 2,633

Average: 35.58

Strike rate: 122.86

Although he hasn't had a chance to play too much cricket outside of Zimbabwe, Hamilton Masakadza is clearly one of his country's few top-level performers, and none of his colleagues have scored more T20 runs than him.

Earlier in his career, the opener faced criticism for scoring too slowly in ODI cricket, but as evidenced by his respectable statistics in T20 Internationals as well as at domestic level, the 31-year-old has improved.

*All statistics courtesy of espncricinfo.com unless specified.