Top 10 Batsmen With Most Runs In Tests

Doing well in a Test match over five days always makes a batter successful. They keep facing countless deliveries from the skilful bowlers and try to score runs in the most traditional format of the game.

In the longest format, each team gets two innings to bat, and that gives them two opportunities to score. But the format isn’t easy, and very few have managed to get their names in the history book.

Here are the top 10 batsmen with the most runs in Tests

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-getter in the longest format with the help of 15921 runs. Over the years, he has faced bowlers of different generations in various situations and conditions to get to the landmark.

Debuting at a young age in 1989, the right-handed batter is the only batter ever to feature in 200 games of the red-ball format and finish at an average of 53.78 and a strike rate of 54.04, thanks to 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 248 runs.

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2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

The former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, is second on the list of most runs in Tests with 133378 in 287 innings at an average of 51.85 and a strike rate of 58.72, thanks to 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries at the best score of 257 runs.

Batting on the fast and bouncy surfaces, Ponting has used his excellent technique to score runs in a career that covered 17 years.

3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

The South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, is perhaps the best player in Test cricket. He is third on the list with 13289 runs in 280 innings at an average of 55.37 and a strike rate of 45.97. The right-handed batter celebrated 45 centuries and 62 fifties at the best score of 224 runs.

Kallis, coming in at number four or five, has mostly helped the Proteas to gain an advantage when they struggle with early wickets.

4. Rahul Dravid (India)

Rahul Dravid comes at four on the list and is India’s second leading run-getter in Tests. He has smashed 13288 runs in 286 innings at an average of 52.31 and a strike rate of 42.51, with the help of 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries at the best score of 270 runs.

Whenever the blue brigade was under pressure, they would simply look at Dravid to bail them out of trouble. He has the knack for playing those incredible knocks.

5. Joe Root (England)

The first active player on the list is England’s former Test captain, Joe Root, who has notched up 12972 runs in 278 innings at an average of 50.87 and a strike rate of 57.47. He has recorded 36 centuries and 65 fifties.

Root is just 316 runs away from going past Dravid and could end up as the second leading run-getter in the format.

6. Alastair Cook (England)

The southpaw opening batter, Alastair Cook, was England’s leading red-ball run-getter for a long time. He nailed 12472 runs in 291 innings at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 46, with the help of 33 centuries and 57 fifties at the best score of 294 runs against India.

Cook made a unique record of starting his career with a century in Nagpur and ending with a century at the Kennington Oval.

7. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

The former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter, Kumar Sangakkara, is the seventh leading run-getter in the longest format with 12400 runs. He achieved the feat in 233 innings at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 54.19, thanks to 38 centuries and 52 fifties at the best score of 319 runs.

On the slow and low spinning surfaces, Kumar always walked at three and guided his side to a strong position.

8. Brian Lara (ICC/West Indies)

The West Indies left-handed batter is at eighth on the list of most Test runs. He has smashed 11953 runs in 232 innings at an average of 52.88 and a strike rate of 60, thanks to 34 centuries and 48 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 400 runs.

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At a time when West Indian cricket started to go down, Lara lifted their game with a few incredible batting performances.

9. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)

The batter has an odd style of batting. Despite this, he was immensely successful with the bat, thanks to 11867 runs in 280 innings at an average of 51.37, with the help of 30 centuries and 66 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 203 runs.

Chanderpaul was the lone standout batter for the Caribbean side in various situations.

10. Mahela Jayawardene

The Sri Lankan middle-order batter, Mahela Jayawardene, is in the tenth position in the table. He ended his career with 11814 runs in 252 innings at an average of 49.84 and a strike rate of 51, thanks to 34 centuries and 50 Test fifties.

His partnerships with Sangakkara were one of the reasons for Sri Lanka’s success in the longest format.