Top 10 Players with the Most Runs in Test Cricket

Most Runs in Test Cricket: Test cricket is the oldest format of cricket and is known as the purest format of a game. It is a very interesting format where the match could go for five days and still end in a draw. Test cricket is a game of patience where the batters learn the right batting technique that can help them to sustain in the cricketing world.

Throughout the years, there have been several batters who made their name in the game and turned out to be amongst the best cricketers in Test cricket. In this article, we will have a look at the top 10 players in test cricket.

Top 10 Players with the Most Runs in Test

10. Joe Root (England)

Joe Root is one of the best players of the red-format and is the only active cricketer to get featured on top 10 in the list of most runs in Test cricket. Due to his consistency and reliability in big matches, Joe Root has been a pivotal player for England in the longest format over the years. He is only the second player after Alastair Cook to cross 10,000 Test runs for England. In the 146 Test matches played so far, Root has accumulated 12402 at an average of 50.62, including 64 half-centuries and 34 centuries.

9. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)

The next name in the list is of the Sri Lankan batting legend Mahela Jayawardene. After starting his career as a promising young batter, Jayawardene turned out to be one of the best cricketers of all time to ever play for Sri Lanka. His minimal footwork and precise timing with the bat was a treat to watch for the cricket fans. Jayawardene has appeared in 149 Test matches for Sri Lanka where he amassed 11814 runs at an average of 49.84 with 50 half-centuries and 34 hundreds.

8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)

The former West Indian cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul finds himself on the eighth position of the list. He was a specialist Test batter, who could stay at the crease for the whole day. In his career span of 21 years, Chanderpaul, has played 164 Test matches for the Windies scoring 11867 runs at an average of 51.37 with 66 half-centuries and 30 centuries.

7. Brian Lara (West Indies)

It wouldn’t be a surprise that Brian Lara has made into the list. The West Indian legend is one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the sport. Lara is also the all-time leading run-scorer for West Indies in Tests and the only batter to score 400 runs in a Test innings. Appearing in 131 Test matches, Brian Lara has scored 11953 at an average of 52.88 hitting 48 hal centuries and 34 centuries.

6. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Kumar Sangakkara is one of the finest wicketkeeper batters to ever play the sport. He is the all-time leading run scorer for Sri Lanka in Test cricket so far and ranked sixth in the list of highest runs in the among international cricketers. In his 134 Test appearances, Sangakkara has amassed 12400 runs at an average of 57.40 including 52 half-centuries and 38 centuries.

5. Alastair Cook (England)

Alastair Cook is considered as one of the best openers in the history of Test cricket. The former England captain is the all time leading run-scorer for the country in Test cricket so far. Cook was an elegant batter who used to score runs constantly . He also led England towards success in his captaincy tenure and took retirement from the game at just 33 years of age. In his 164 appearances in Test cricket, Cook has amassed 12472 runs at an average of 45.35 hitting with 57 half-centuries and 33 hundreds.

4. Rahul Dravid (India)

Widely regarded as the ‘Wall’, Rahul Dravid was one of India’s most reliable batters in Test who had a caliber to stay whole day at the crease. It was very difficult for a bowler to get him out once he was all set . He also enjoyed some success as a Test captain for India including a famous series win in England, and the first ever-Test match win in South Africa. Dravid is the second highest scorer for India in Tests and is currently serving as a Head coach of the Men’s National Cricket team. He has scored 13288 in 164 Test appearances at an average of 13288 with 63 half centuries and 36 centuries.

3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

The former South African all rounder comes third in the list of highest runs in Test cricket. Jacques Kallis is considered as one of the greatest all rounders to ever play the sport. He is the all time leading run scorer for South Africa in all formats of the game. In Tests, Kallis has amassed 13289 runs from 166 matches at an average of 45.97, hitting 58 half centuries and 45 hundreds.

2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Ricky Ponting is a player who has excelled in both batting and captaincy. He is the all time leading run scorer for Australia across formats and is considered as the best captain for the Aussies who won the most number of international trophies. In Test cricket, Ponting earns the second spot in the list of most runs in the format by international cricket. He has scored 13378 from 168 Tests at an average of 58.72 hitting 62 half-centuries and 41 hundreds.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

The first name on the list is none other than “Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar. Starting from the age of 16 in 1989, Sachin had a glorious cricket career of 24 years which turned him into a legend of the game. He is the inspiration for many aspiring cricketers from all over the world. With an overall 100 centuries, Sachin is the all time leading run scorer in all formats of the game, and is the only international cricketer to get featured in 200 Tests. He has scored 15921 in Tests at an average of 53.78 including 68 half-centuries and a record-51 centuries.

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