Sachin Tendulkar is a cricketer who has played the most Test matches in Test cricket history. James Anderson becomes the second player in history to have played the most Test matches. Test cricket is widely regarded as the best and oldest format of the game. In the premature days, test cricket matches were played over six days, with a day off in between. When compared to limited-overs cricket, the field constraints are quite different. If necessary, Teams A and B must each play two innings. The first official Test is considered to have begun on March 15, 1877, with England and Australia going head-to-head at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). On March 19, the Australian team won by 45 runs. Let’s take a look at the most number of Test matches played by a cricketer in Test cricket history.
Most Test Cricket Matches (Individual Records) | Who Played Most Test Matches In Cricket History?
| Player & Country | Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | 100 | Wkts | BBI | Bowling Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Tendulkar (INDIA) | 1989-2013 | 200 | 15921 | 248* | 53.78 | 51 | 46 | 3/10 | 54.17 |
| JM Anderson (ENG) | 2003-2022 | 169* | 1258 | 81 | 9.25 | 0 | 640 | 7/42 | 26.53 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 1995-2012 | 168 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 41 | 5 | 1/0 | 55.20 |
| SR Waugh (AUS) | 1985-2004 | 168 | 10927 | 200 | 51.06 | 32 | 92 | 5/28 | 37.44 |
| JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 1995-2013 | 166 | 13289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45 | 292 | 6/54 | 32.65 |
| S Chanderpaul (WI) | 1994-2015 | 164 | 11867 | 203* | 51.37 | 30 | 9 | 1/2 | 98.11 |
| R Dravid (ICC/INDIA) | 1996-2012 | 164 | 13288 | 270 | 52.31 | 36 | 1 | 1/18 | 39.00 |
| AN Cook (ENG) | 2006-2018 | 161 | 12472 | 294 | 45.35 | 33 | 1 | 1/6 | 7.00 |
| AR Border (AUS) | 1978-1994 | 156 | 11174 | 205 | 50.56 | 27 | 39 | 7/46 | 39.10 |
| SCJ Broad (ENG) | 2007-2022 | 151* | 3388 | 169 | 18.51 | 1 | 531 | 8/15 | 27.85 |
| DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 1997-2014 | 149 | 11814 | 374 | 49.84 | 34 | 6 | 2/32 | 51.66 |
| MV Boucher (ICC/SA) | 1997-2012 | 147 | 5515 | 125 | 30.30 | 5 | 1 | 1/6 | 6.00 |
| SK Warne (AUS) | 1992-2007 | 145 | 3154 | 99 | 17.32 | 0 | 708 | 8/71 | 25.41 |
| VVS Laxman (INDIA) | 1996-2012 | 134 | 8781 | 281 | 45.97 | 17 | 2 | 1/2 | 63.00 |
| KC Sangakkara (SL) | 2000-2015 | 134 | 12400 | 319 | 57.40 | 38 | 0 | – | – |
| M Muralitharan (ICC/SL) | 1992-2010 | 133 | 1261 | 67 | 11.67 | 0 | 800 | 9/51 | 22.72 |
| AJ Stewart (ENG) | 1990-2003 | 133 | 8463 | 190 | 39.54 | 15 | 0 | – | – |
| A Kumble (INDIA) | 1990-2008 | 132 | 2506 | 110* | 17.77 | 1 | 619 | 10/74 | 29.65 |
| CA Walsh (WI) | 1984-2001 | 132 | 936 | 30* | 7.54 | 0 | 519 | 7/37 | 24.44 |
| N Kapil Dev (INDIA) | 1978-1994 | 131 | 5248 | 163 | 31.05 | 8 | 434 | 9/83 | 29.64 |
| BC Lara (ICC/WI) | 1990-2006 | 131 | 11953 | 400* | 52.88 | 34 | 0 | – | – |
Top 5 Players With Most Test Cricket Matches | List Of Cricketers Who Have Played Most Tests.
Sachin Tendulkar played 200 Test matches between 1989 to 2013, the most number of Test matches played by any cricketer in Test cricket history. Former Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have been surpassed by English fast bowler James Anderson, while India’s legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has remained at the top of the list. Former Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, who both played 168 matches for Australia, set the precedent for James Anderson. English pacer James Anderson breaks the record while playing the 169th match of his career against Australia in the fourth Test match of the Ashes series. It is also worth noting that James Anderson holds the record for most Test wickets taken, with 640. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is ranked 5th on the list, having played 166 test matches between 1995 to 2013.
1. Sachin Tendulkar- 200 Test Matches.
Sachin Tendulkar, the GOD of Cricket and master blaster, takes the top spot on this list, having played in 200 Tests for India during his 25-year career. In comparison to the other contenders on this list, Sachin is light years ahead. However, James Anderson is only 31 tests away from breaking Sachin’s 200-test record. Sachin Tendulkar has been renamed the “GOD of Cricket” for scoring over 34k runs against all odds during his cricket career. Sachin Tendulkar has scored 15,921 runs in 329 innings in 200 Tests, for an average of 53.79. In his 25-year Test career, Sachin Tendulkar has smashed 68 half-centuries and 51 centuries.
| Game Type | Career Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | Ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 1989-2013 | 200 | 15921 | 248* | 53.78 | 51 | 46 | 3/10 | 54.17 | 115 |
2. James Anderson- 169* Test Matches.
England’s best pacer James Anderson has played 169 tests in his career, placing him second on this list of players who have played the most test matches in their career. In the ongoing 4th Ashes Test series, James Anderson is currently playing his 169th test at Sydney. Meanwhile, he surpassed former Australian captains Ricky Ponting (168) and Steve Waugh (168) to become the second most-played test cricketer in history. James Anderson is only 31 Test matches behind Sachin Tendulkar, who has played 200 Tests in his 25-year career. Meanwhile, James Anderson has 640 wickets at a decent average of 26.53 in 169 tests. In his Test career, he has 31 fifers and three ten-wicket hauls.
| Game Type | Career Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | 5w | Ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 2003-2022 | 169 | 1258 | 81 | 9.25 | 0 | 640 | 7/42 | 26.53 | 31 | 99 |
3. Ricky Ponting- 168 Test Matches.
Ricky Ponting, the most successful former Australian captain and one of cricket’s all-time greatest batsmen has made the list of players who have played the most test matches in their career. Ricky Ponting has also played the same number of matches as Steve Waugh. Both have played in 168 tests for Australia. The former captain has also had a high win percentage in the Tests he has captained. Ricky Ponting scored a total of 13,378 runs in 168 tests, with an impressive average of 51.85. Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting has 62 half-centuries, 41 centuries, and the highest Test score of 257 in his career (1995-2012).
| Game Type | Career Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | Ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Career | 1995-2012 | 168 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 41 | 5 | 1/0 | 55.20 | 196 |
4. Steve Waugh- 168 Matches.
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has played 168 tests in his test career, placing him fourth on this list of the most test matches played in cricket history. Meanwhile, Steve Waugh is regarded as one of the greatest captains in the history of Test cricket. Waugh has the highest winning percentage in test cricket as a captain. Meanwhile, Waugh has smashed 10,927 runs at an average of 50.59 in 168 tests, as well as 92 test wickets including 3 fifers. Steve Waugh has 50 half-centuries, 32 centuries, and the highest score of 200 runs in his Test career (1985-2004).
| Game Format | Career Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | 5w | Ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 1985-2004 | 168 | 10927 | 200 | 51.06 | 32 | 92 | 5/28 | 37.44 | 3 | 112 |
5. Jacques Kallis-166 Test Cricket Matches.
Jacques Kallis is well-known for his versatility in a variety of game formats. South African Jacques Kallis is ranked fifth on this list because he is one of the best all-rounders in the world. Jacques Kallis has played in 166 test matches for his country South Africa, demonstrating his abilities with both the bat and the bowl. Meanwhile, in 166 test matches, Jacques Kallis has scored 13,289 runs at an impressive average of 55.37 and taken 292 wickets in 272 innings. So, without a doubt, he will always be remembered as one of the game’s greatest all-rounders. In his Test career, Jacques Kallis has scored 58 half-centuries, 45 centuries, and 5 fifers.
| Game Format | Career Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 100s | Wkts | BBI | Bowl Avg | 5w | Ct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 1995-2013 | 166 | 13289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45 | 292 | 6/54 | 32.65 | 5 | 200 |
Also, Check out: Top 5 Best Bowling Figures By Indian Bowlers vs South Africa in Test Cricket (Innings).
Conclusion
This article is based on the top five most test cricket matches played by a cricketer in men’s international test cricket history, and it has been updated with statistics from ESPNcricinfo.com‘s official 2022 updates. We hope you enjoyed our article; please share your valuable thoughts in the comments section; we appreciate your feedback. This page’s content is subject to change at any time without notice. Our website makes no guarantees about the information’s accuracy.
