Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Test cricket, amassing 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches. Following him is Australia's Ricky Ponting, with 13,378 runs in 168 games. South Africa's Jacques Kallis is third on the list, having scored 13,289 runs in 166 games.
India's Rahul Dravid ranks fourth among the top ten, with 13,288 runs in 164 matches. He is closely followed by England's Sir Alastair Cook, who scored 12,472 runs in 161 games. The only active player in the top ten is England's Joe Root, who has accumulated 12,027 runs in 143 games.
India, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and England each have two players in the top ten. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid represent India, while Sri Lanka have Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. From the West Indies, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul make the list. Joe Root and Sir Alastair Cook represent England.
Ricky Ponting marks Australia's presence in the top ten, and Jacques Kallis is the sole representative from South Africa. Notably, there are no players from Pakistan, New Zealand, or Bangladesh in the top 10.
Most runs in Tests
Number | Name | Country | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 15,921 |
2 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 13,378 |
3 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 13,289 |
4 | Rahul Dravid | India | 13,288 |
5 | Sir Alastair Cook | England | 12,472 |
6 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 12,400 |
7 | Joe Root | England | 12,027 |
8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 11,953 |
9 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 11,867 |
10 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 11,814 |
1: Sachin Tendulkar: 15,921 runs in 200 matches
Former Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in Test cricket, having scored 15,921 runs in 200 matches. He also has the most Test centuries, with 51. His highest score is an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh in 2004. Tendulkar was sublime across eras and conditions, as an impressive average of 53.78 suggests. Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989 and concluded his illustrious career in 2013 with his final game against the West Indies.
2: Ricky Ponting: 13,378 runs in 168 games
Making his Test debut in 1995, Ricky Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 matches for Australia, maintaining an average of 51.85. By the time he retired in 2012, he had amassed 41 centuries and 62 fifties. His highest Test score was 257, achieved against India in 2003.
3: Jacques Kallis: 13,289 runs in 166 games
The former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis ranks third in the top ten list, with 13,289 runs from 166 matches at an average of 55.37. He scored 45 Test centuries, the second-most behind Sachin Tendulkar's 51. Kallis' highest Test score is 224, achieved against Sri Lanka in 2012. In addition to his batting skills, Kallis also took a remarkable 292 wickets in Test cricket, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the game.
