Every person who wants to become a cricketer dreams of playing for their country and that too is in the longest format. T20 can give all the money you want but the real test and satisfaction come by playing Test match cricket in difficult conditions while representing your country. Getting to play one Test match for your country is an achievement but some great players have played 100 Test matches for their country.
The great Sachin Tendulkar managed to play 200 Test matches for India. A total of 70 players have played 100 or more than 100 Test matches and Virat Kohli will become the 71st player in the history of Test cricket to play 100 Test matches in Mohali. Virat Kohli has scored 7968 runs at an average of 50.39 with 28 half-centuries and 27 centuries to his name in 99 Test matches. There are players who have scored more than Kohli in their 100 Test matches. So, let us have a look at the five players with the most runs after 100 Test matches.
5. Matthew Hayden – 8508 runs
Australia’s Matthew Hayden is fifth on the list of players with the most runs after 100 Test matches. Hayden who used to open the batting for Australia had scored 8508 runs at an average of 51.87 in his first 100 Test matches. Hayden is one of those players who used to intimidate bowlers and it wasn’t easy for the bowlers to bowl to him.
Hayden played only three Tests after his 100th Test as he ended his career with 8625 runs in 103 Tests with 29 half-centuries and 30 centuries to his name. He also holds the record for the highest score by an Australian in Test cricket.
4. Rahul Dravid – 8553 runs
Rahul Dravid is the only Indian in this list of players with the most runs after 100 Test matches. Dravid who has played 164 Tests for India managed to score 8553 runs in his first 100 Test matches at an average of 57.79. Among all the batsmen on this list, he had the highest average.
Dravid was one of the most patient batsmen in the history of the game. He waited for the bowler to make a mistake. The current Indian coach ended his career with 63 half-centuries and 36 centuries out of which five were double centuries.
3. Younis Khan – 8640 runs
Younis Khan from Pakistan who retired from Test cricket in 2017 is third on the list with 8640 runs from his first 100 Test matches at an average of 53.33. Younis Khan managed to play 118 Tests for Pakistan and scored more than 10000 runs in the longest format.
Younis Khan is the only Pakistani batsman to score more than 10000 Test runs. The next best is Javed Miandad with 8832 runs. Younis Khan was a phenomenal player and it was a treat to watch him bat.
2. Kumar Sangakkara – 8651 runs
Kumar Sangakkara is one of the most stylish consistent performers you would ever see. Sangakkara is second on the list with 8651 runs from his first 100 Test matches. He averaged 55.81 in his first 100 Tests. The left-handed Sri Lankan batsman has a stellar record as he scored 12400 runs in 134 Tests at an average of 57.14.
He had 52 half-centuries and 38 centuries to his name out of which 11 were double centuries. He was just one short of Sir Donald Bradman who has 12 double centuries to his name. Sri Lanka surely miss the legendary Kumar Sangakkara as he retired from Test cricket in 2015.
1. Brian Lara – 8916 runs
Brian Lara from West Indies tops the list with 8916 runs from his 100 Test matches with an average of 52.14. Lara who was a prolific run-scorer at the international level holds the record for the most runs after 100 Test matches. He also holds the record for the highest score in Test cricket – 400 against England.
Lara played 131 Tests for West Indies and scored 11953 runs at an average of 52.89 with 48 half-centuries and 34 centuries to his name. The left-handed batsman from West Indies is surely one of the greats of the game.
