Most Runs in Test Cricket

Most Runs in Test Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket. Fondly known as the “God of Cricket” and “The Master Blaster,” Sachin has earned this admiration from his fans and the cricket community. He is also the only cricketer to have played the most Test matches—an impressive 200 games in his career.

Sachin has set an unmatched standard for runs in Test cricket, scoring 15,921 runs across those 200 matches. Following him are Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis, who have scored 13,378 and 13,289 runs, respectively, making them the next highest scorers in Test cricket history.

This article will dive into the exciting world of Test cricket’s top run-scorers. We’ll explore the players who have accumulated the most runs, those who have consistently dominated the entire series, and the remarkable achievements of scoring big in single Test matches.

Most Runs in Test Cricket

The highest run-scorers in Test cricket are some of the game’s most iconic players. These legends have excelled at the highest level, often for over a decade, building up runs against the world’s toughest bowlers under various challenging conditions.

Rank Player Team Span Matches Innings Runs High Score Strike Rate Not Outs
1 Sachin Tendulkar IND 1989-2013 200 329 15921 248* 54.04 33
2 Ricky Ponting AUS 1995-2012 168 287 13378 257 58.72 29
3 Jacques Kallis SA 1995-2013 166 280 13289 224 45.97 40
4 Rahul Dravid IND 1996-2012 164 286 13288 270 42.51 32
5 Joe Root ENG 2012-2024 148* 268 12664 262 57.14 22
6 Alastair Cook ENG 2006-2018 161 291 12472 294 46.95 16
7 Kumar Sangakkara SL 2000-2015 134 233 12400 319 54.19 17
8 Brian Lara WI 1990-2006 131 232 11953 400* 60.51 6
9 Shivnaraine Chanderpaul WI 1994-2015 164 280 11867 203* 43.31 49
10 Mahela Jayawardene SL 1997-2014 149 252 11814 374 51.45 15
11 Allen Border AUS 1978-1994 156 265 11174 205 41.09 44
12 Steve Waugh AUS 1985-2004 168 260 10927 200 48.64 46
13 Sunil Gavaskar IND 1971-1987 125 214 10122 236* 43.35 16
14 Younis Khan PAK 2000-2017 118 213 10099 313 52.12 19
15 Steve Smith AUS 2010-2024* 109 195 9685 239 53.50 25
16 Hashim Amla SA 2004-2019 124 215 9282 311* 49.97 16
17 Graeme Smith ICC/SA 2002-2014 117 205 9265 277 59.67 13
18 Virat Kohli IND 2011-2024 115 195 8947 254* 55.78 12
19 Graham Gooch ENG 1975-1995 118 215 8900 333 49.23 6
20 Kane Williamson NZ 2010-2024 102 180 8881 251 51.43 17
21 Javed Miandad PAK 1976-1993 124 189 8832 280* 45.99 21
22 Inzamam-ul-Haq ICC/PAK 1992-2007 120 200 8830 329 54.02 22
23 David Warner AUS 2011-2024 112 205 8786 335* 70.19 8
24 VVS Laxman IND 1996-2012 134 225 8781 281 49.37 34
25 AB de Villiers SA 2004-2018 114 191 8765 278* 54.51 18
26 Michael  Clarke AUS 2004-2015 115 198 8643 329* 55.92 22
27 Mathew Hayden AUS 1994-2009 103 184 8625 380 60.10 14
28 Virendra Sehwag ICC/IND 2001-2013 104 180 8586 319 82.23 6
29 Vivian Richards WI 1974-1991 121 182 8540 291 69.77 12
30 Alec Stewart ENG 1990-2003 133 235 8463 190 48.66 21

Most Runs in a Test Series

Rank Player Team Opponent Matches Runs Innings High Score Average 100s 50s
1 Don Bradman AUS ENG 5 974 7 334 139.14 4 0
2 Wally Hammond ENG AUS 5 905 9 251 113.12 4 0
3 Mark Taylor AUS ENG 6 839 11 219 83.90 2 5
4 Neil Harvey AUS SA 5 834 9 205 92.66 4 3
5 Vivian Richards WI ENG 4 829 7 291 118.42 3 2
6 Clyde Walcott WI AUS 5 827 10 155 82.70 5 2
7 Garfield Sobers WI PAK 5 824 8 365* 137.33 3 3
8 Don Bradman AUS ENG 5 810 9 270 90.00 3 1
9 Don Bradman AUS SA 5 806 5 299* 201.50 4 0
10 Brain Lara WI ENG 5 798 8 375 99.75 2 2

Most Runs in a Test Match

Rank Player Team Opponent 1st Innings 2nd Innings Total Venue
1 Graham Gooch ENG IND 333 123 456 Lord’s
2 Mark Taylor AUS PAK 334* 92 426 Peshawar
3 Kumar Sangakkara SL BAN 319 105 424 Chattogram
4 Brain Lara WI ENG 400* 400 St John’s
5 Craig Chappell AUS NZ 247* 133 380 Wellington
6 Mathew Hayden AUS ZIM 380 380 Perth
7 Andy Sandham ENG WI 325 50 375 Kingston
8 Brain Lara WI ENG 375 DNB 375 St John’s
9 Mahela Jayawardene SL SA 374 374 Colombo (SSC)
10 Garfield  Sobers WI PAK 365* 365 Kingston

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FAQs on Most Runs in Test Cricket

Q: Who is the only player to have scored 15,000+ runs in Test cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar, with 15,921 runs, is the only player to surpass 15,000 runs in Tests.

Q: Which players scored the highest individual scores in a single Test match?

Graham Gooch holds the record for the most runs in a single Test match with 456 runs (333 & 123) against India at Lord’s.

Q: How many centuries did Don Bradman score in his record-breaking 974-run series?

Don Bradman scored four centuries in his 974-run series against England in 1930.

Q: Who is the highest run-scorer for England in Test cricket?

Alastair Cook is the highest run-scorer for England, with 12,472 runs.

Q: Who is the highest run-scorer for West Indies in Test cricket?

Brian Lara leads the West Indies with 11,953 Test runs.

Q: Who has the most centuries among current players in Test cricket?

Joe Root, with 30+ centuries, currently has the most among active players.

Q: Which player scored the highest individual innings in a Test match?

Brian Lara holds the record with 400* against England in 2004.

Q: Which Indian player scored the highest in a single Test innings?

Virender Sehwag scored 319 against South Africa in 2008, the highest by an Indian.

Q: Who has the highest strike rate among the top 30 Test run-scorers?

Virender Sehwag has the highest strike rate among the top 30, with 82.23.

Q: Which players scored a triple century and a century in the same Test match?

Graham Gooch (333 & 123) and Mark Taylor (334* & 92) achieved this rare feat.

Q: Who scored the most runs in a single Test innings at Lord’s?

Graham Gooch scored 333 at Lord’s, the highest individual score at this venue.

Q: Which player has scored the most runs in Test cricket as a captain?

Graeme Smith holds this record, scoring 8,659 runs as captain for South Africa.

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