Who Has Scored the Most Test Runs? List of Top 35 Highest Runs Scorers in Test Cricket History

by Nitesh Mathur | Jun 25, 2023 | Records

Today, we will look at the cricketers who have scored the most Test runs. Can you guess how many cricketers have made over 10000 Test runs?

With a combination of skill and determination, players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara have rewritten the record books with their extraordinary batting feats. Read on to find out more about these legendary batters and their remarkable run hauls in Test cricket!

Related Articles

• List of Top 25 Cricketers With Most Test Centuries
• List of Top 26 Cricketers With Most Test Wickets
• 155 Greatest Cricketers of All-Time

Key Takeaways – Most Test Runs

• Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Ricky Ponting (13378), Jacques Kallis (13289), Rahul Dravid (13288), and Alastair Cook (12472) are the top 5 runs scorers in cricket history.
• Among the Fab 4 and active cricketers, Joe Root has scored the most Test runs (11178). Steve Smith (9085), Virat Kohli (8479), David Warner (8247), and Kane Williamson (8124) follow Root.
• Australia has produced 3 players with 10000+ scores (8 total with 8000+ scores) as well as India – 3 players with 10000+ scores (6 total with 8000+ runs). Next, we have England – 2 (7 total), West Indies – 2 (4 total) Sri Lanka – 2 (2 total), South Africa – 1 (4 total), Pakistan – 1 (3 total). New Zealand has produced just one player with 8000+ Test runs.
• 35 cricketers have scored 8000+ Test runs, 16 cricketers have scored 9000+ Test runs. Among the 16, only 14 cricketers have scored 10000+ Test runs, 11 have scored 11000+, six have scored 12000+, four have 13000+, and only Sachin Tendulkar has 15000 runs.
• Among 10000 run scorers in Test cricket, Kumar Sangakkara has the highest average at 57.40, while Alastair Cook has the lowest average at 45.35. Among the top 35 run scorers, Steve Smith currently has the highest Test average at 59.39 and Alec Stewart had the lowest average at 39.54.

Most Test Runs: 10000+ Runs Scorer in Test Cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar (15921 Runs), India

• Years Played: 1989-2013
• Tests/Innings: 200/329
• Average: 53.78

Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, holds the record for the most runs in Test cricket with a staggering 15,921 runs.

2. Ricky Ponting (13378 Runs), Australia

• Years Played: 1995-2012
• Tests/Innings: 168/287
• Average: 51.85

Ricky Ponting holds the record for the second highest run scorer in Test cricket with 13378 runs. His strong batting technique and his excellent captaincy made him one of the most successful captains in the history of cricket. He was known for playing attacking strokes and leading from the front.

3. Jacques Kallis (13289 Runs), South Africa

• Years Played: 1995-2013
• Tests/Innings: 166/280
• Average: 55.37

Jacques Kallis comes in next as the third-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 13289 runs. His is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders and versatile players of all time. He had a great eye for picking gaps and was able to score big runs quickly.

4. Rahul Dravid (13288 Runs), India

• Years Played: 1996-2012
• Tests/Innings: 164/286
• Average: 52.31

Rahul Dravid, often referred to as ‘The Wall’, is at fourth place with 13288 runs in Test cricket. His ability to grind out long innings and score big runs made him one of the most dependable batsmen for India over a period of time.

5. Alastair Cook (12472 Runs), England

• Years Played: 1996-2012
• Tests/Innings: 166/280
• Average: 45.35

Alastair Cook is the fifth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 12472 runs. His ability to bat for long periods of time and put a price on his wicket made him one of the most reliable batsmen for England. He was also known for his excellent technique and strong defense against spin bowling.

6. Kumar Sangakkara (12400 Runs), Sri Lanka

• Years Played: 2000-2015
• Tests/Innings: 134/233
• Average: 57.40

Kumar Sangakkara is the sixth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 12400 runs. His unmatched batting technique, quick footwork, and ability to score big runs quickly made him one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket. He was known for his calmness under pressure and his ability to play match-winning knocks.

7. Brian Lara (11953 Runs), West Indies

• Years Played: 1990-2006
• Matches: 131/232
• Average: 52.88

Brian Lara is the seventh-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 11953 runs. His attacking strokeplay, elegant batting style, and penchant for scoring big centuries made him one of the most entertaining batsmen to watch. He was known for his ability to change the course of a game with crucial knocks under pressure.

8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11867 Runs), West Indies

• Years Played: 1994-2015
• Tests/Innings: 164/280
• Average: 51.37

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the eighth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 11867 runs. His ability to bat for long periods of time, his unconventional batting style and technique, and his patience made him one of the most dependable batsmen for West Indies. He was known for his defensive game and his ability to bat out tough periods.

9. Mahela Jayawardene (11814 Runs), Sri Lanka

• Years Played: 1997-2014
• Tests/Innings: 149/252
• Average: 49.84

Mahela Jayawardene is the ninth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 11814 runs. His elegant batting style, strong footwork, and ability to score big runs quickly made him one of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket. He was known for his ability to take control of a game with his match-winning knocks.

11. Joe Root (11178 Runs), England

• Years Played: 2012-present
• Matches: 132/241
• Average: 50.57

Joe Root is currently eleventh-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 11168 runs. His strong batting technique, attacking strokes, and ability to score big runs has made him one of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket in the modern era.

10. Allan Border (11174 Runs), Australia

• Years Played: 1978-1994
• Tests/Innings: 156/265
• Average: 50.56

Allan Border is the tenth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 11174 runs. He was known for his ability to bat for long periods of time, his strong defensive technique, and his aggressive stroke play. He was the cornerstone of the Australian team during their successful period in world cricket.

12. Steve Waugh (10927 Runs), Australia

• Years Played: 1985-2004
• Tests/Innings: 168/260
• Average: 51.06

Steve Waugh is the twelfth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 10927 runs. He was known for his ability to bat for long periods of time, his strong defensive technique, and his aggressive style. He captained Australia during their golden period of world cricket and had a knack for playing match-winning knocks.

13. Sunil Gavaskar (10122 Runs), India

• Years Played: 1971-1987
• Tests/Innings: 125/514
• Average: 51.12

Sunil Gavaskar is the thirteenth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 10122 runs. The original ‘Little Master,’ he was known for his defensive technique, strong footwork, and ability to grind out long innings. His ability to score big centuries under pressure made him one of the most reliable batsmen for India over a period of time.

14. Younis Khan (10099 Runs), Pakistan

• Years Played: 2000-2017
• Tests/Innings: 118/213
• Average: 52.05

Younis Khan is the fourteenth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 10099 runs. His match-winning knocks under pressure made him one of the most dependable batsmen for Pakistan over a period of time.

List of the Top 35 Highest Runs Scorer in Test Cricket: From Sachin Tendulkar to Mark Waugh

Here are the cricketers with 8000 or more runs in Test cricket. 35 cricketers have broken the 8000-run mark.

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Most Test Runs

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 06/25/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).