Test cricket is seen as the highest level of the sport, and demands players' endurance, strategy, and skill. It's steeped in tradition, going back over a century, and is considered the purest form of cricket. It is the longest form in cricket and is played on different types of pitches, and requires both batsmen and bowlers to show resilience and mental strength over a couple of days. More than just a competition, Test cricket tells a story of history, legacy, and national pride. One can easily understand that it demands years of experience which is one of the reasons that you can't see youngsters selected for the test squad. Against the equally experienced and skilled players, it is very difficult to position oneself on top. Today we are going to learn about some of the greatest of test cricket who dominated and scored the 'most runs in Test Cricket'. This list of the 'highest runs in test cricket' will amaze you, featuring some of the biggest names in the sport's history. Discover the legends who dominated the game. Top 10 Most Run Scorers in Test Cricket Player Span Mat Inns Runs HS Ave BF 100 50 Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 1989-2013 200 329 15921 248* 53.78 29437+ 51 68 RT Ponting (AUS) 1995-2012 168 287 13378 257 51.85 22782 41 62 JH Kallis (ICC/SA) 1995-2013 166 280 13289 224 55.37 28903 45 58 Rahul Dravid (ICC/IND) 1996-2012 164 286 13288 270 52.31 31258 36 63 AN Cook (ENG) 2006-2018 161 291 12472 294 45.35 26562 33 57 JE Root (ENG) 2012-2024 146 267 12402 254 50.62 21785 34 64 Sangakkara 2000-2015 134 233 12400 319 57.40 22882 38 52 BC Lara (ICC/WI) 1990-2006 131 232 11953 400* 52.88 19753 34 48 S Chanderpaul (WI) 1994-2015 164 280 11867 203* 51.37 27395 30 66 DPMD Jayawardene (SL) 1997-2014 149 252 11814 374 49.84 22959 34 50 Sachin Tendulkar (IND) Sachin Tendulkar is one of the finest batsmen cricket has ever produced. He has many nicknames such as Master Blaster, Little Master or God of Cricket etc. He played 200 Test matches in his decade-long career from 1989 to 2013. He scored a total of 15,921 runs in 329 innings with a highest score of 248 not out. Tendulkar hit 51 centuries during his career. It has also been said about him that no matter how bad the condition is if Sachin is standing on the ground then there is always hope. In this list, he is holding the top spot and scored the most runs in test cricket. Also Read | Understanding the Follow-On Rule in Test Cricket Ricky Ponting (AUS) Who doesn't know the greatest captain Australia has ever produced? His captaincy led Australia to win 2 ODI World Cups. Not only a brilliant captain but he is also a marvelous batsman and he proved it by achieving second place in most runs scored in test cricket. Ricky Ponting played 168 Test matches between 1995 and 2012. He accumulated 13,378 runs in 287 innings, with a top score of 257. Ponting achieved 41 centuries in his Test career. Jacques Kallis (SA) There is no denying that Jacques Kallis is the most successful all-rounder the world has ever seen. He participated in 166 Test matches from 1995 to 2013. He scored 13,289 runs in 280 innings, with a highest score of 224, and is the top 3rd player who scored the highest runs in test cricket. Kallis recorded 45 centuries during his time in Test cricket. Rahul Dravid (IND) Also known as The Wall, Rahul Dravid is the batsman that is made specially for Test Cricket. He got his name The Wall because once he stands between the bowler and the wicket there is no way for the ball to cross him and reach wickets. He played 164 Test matches from 1996 to 2012. He amassed 13,288 runs in 286 innings, with a best score of 270, and is the second player from India who scored the highest runs in the test. Dravid scored 36 centuries throughout his Test career. Also Read | Everything You Need to Know About Overs in Test Cricket Alastair Cook (ENG) Alastair Cook is a former English cricketer renowned for his prolific career as a batsman. Over his Test career, which spanned from 2006 to 2018, Cook amassed a total of 12,472 runs in 161 matches. Cook hit 33 centuries during his Test cricket tenure. He is one of the highest run-scorers in Test cricket history. Cook's dedication, resilience, and leadership have left a lasting impact on the sport, earning him a place among cricket's all-time greats. Joe Root (ENG) Joe Root is one of England’s premier batsmen in Test cricket. Since making his debut in 2012, Root has amassed over 12400 runs in 146 matches, establishing himself as a leading run-scorer in the format. His technique and adaptability have made him a vital player for England across various conditions and opponents. He has hit a massive 1,343 fours and 44 sixes in his Test career. Also Read | DLS Method in Cricket: What It Is and How It Works Kumar Sangakkara (SL) For a very long span of his career Sangakkara not only lifted the responsibility of being a Sri Lankan captain but also did wicketkeeping for his nation and delivered with his excellency. Kumar Sangakkara played 134 Test matches between 2000 and 2015. He amassed 12,400 runs in 233 innings, with a top score of 319. Sangakkara registered 38 centuries during his Test career and became top 6th cricketer who scored the highest runs in test cricket. Brian Lara (WI) Often compared with Sachin Tendulkar because of his batting prowess, Brian Lara participated in 131 Test matches. It is also an achievement to be compared with a legend like Sachin Tendulkar. He scored 11,953 runs in 232 innings. He also holds the record for the highest run score in a single inning of a Test match which is 400 not out. Lara hit 34 centuries during his Test cricket career. Also Read | IPL Winners and Runner Ups (2008 - 2024): Who Emerged Victorious in Each Season? Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a legendary cricketer from the West Indies, known for his unique batting stance and remarkable consistency. Chanderpaul's career spanned two decades, from 1994 to 2015. Over his career, Chanderpaul scored an impressive 11,867 runs in Test cricket, which places him 9th on the list of most runs in Test cricket. He achieved this feat in 164 matches, making him one of the most dependable and enduring players for the West Indies. Mahela Jayawardene (SL) Mahela Jayawardene is one of Sri Lanka's greatest cricketers, renowned for his elegant batting. Over his illustrious Test career, he scored 11,814 runs in 149 matches, making him 10th highest run scorer test cricket. Jayawardene maintained an impressive batting average of 49.84, reflecting his consistency and ability to play long innings. One of the standout moments of his career was when he scored 374 runs against South Africa in 2006, which remains his highest score in Test cricket. Also Read | Top 5 Most Successful Captains in Indian Cricket History