It Figures

Record-holders for most number of Test runs

A summary of the record holders for the most runs in Tests

Ric Finlay

Holders of the record for most Test runs
From Match Number Player Tests Record Held Final Runs Starting Days Record Held
1 C Bannerman 4 239 19/03/1877 1752
5 G Ulyett 11 676 04/01/1882 952
16 WL Murdoch 8 860 13/08/1884 731
24 A Shrewsbury 43 1277 14/08/1886 5641
67 J Darling 1 1293 23/01/1902 26
68 SE Gregory 3 1366 18/02/1902 116
71 AC MacLaren 3 1531 14/06/1902 42
74 C Hill 84 3412 26/07/1902 8374
158 JB Hobbs 102 5410 27/12/1924 4567
260 WR Hammond 414 7249 29/06/1937 12209
674 MC Cowdrey 21 7459 02/12/1970 482
695 GStA Sobers 219 8032 28/03/1972 3562
914 G Boycott 53 8114 28/12/1981 688
967 SM Gavaskar 248 10122 16/11/1983 3392
1215 AR Border 558 11174 28/02/1993 4657
1773 Brian Lara 116 11953 29/11/2005 1057
1889 SR Tendulkar 1 12037 21/10/2008 -

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This offering is less an analysis than a useful table to ensure you dominate at quiz nights. Alternatively, you may be able to impress your workmates at a tea break with your far-reaching knowledge. Questions you will now be able to answer include:

  • Who has held the record for the longest time? (Wally Hammond)
  • Who has held the record for the most number of Tests? (Allan Border)
  • Which player held the record for just one Test? (Joe Darling)
  • How many players have held the record? (seventeen)
  • How many players held the record in the 1902 calendar year? (five)
  • Who was the only player to hold the record posthumously? (Hammond)
  • How many currenly-living players have held the record? (six)
  • Which country has provided the most players to hold the record? (England, seven)

Note: The dates used are the dates of the last day of the Test in which the record was achieved, rather than the actual date on which it was achieved.