Tendulkar, Lara and Sangakkara ... the top 10 Test run scorers – in pictures

The most prolific players and their records in cricket's longest form

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  TOP 10 TEST RUN SCORERS: 10) Allan Border (Australia) 11,174 runs: The left-hander played 156 Tests for his country and held the world record for the number of consecutive Test appearances of 153, before it was surpassed in 2018 by England's Alastair Cook. Border cracked 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries at an average of 50.56. His biggest knock of 205 came against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in 1987. Border, who played his last Test in 1994, saw his Australian run record last until it was beaten by Ricky Ponting in 2009. Allsport

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  9) MAHELA JAYAWARDENE (Sri Lanka) 11,814 runs: A classy run-scorer who broke 10,000 runs in Tests and ODIs. Scored 34 centuries and 50 half-centuries in 149 Tests at an average of 49.84. His biggest knock of 374 against South Africa in Colombo in 2006 is the record score by a Sri Lankan batsman and the fourth highest of all time. Jayawardene played his last Test in 2014. Getty

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  8) SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL (West Indies) 11,867 runs: Prolific left-hander with a famous unorthodox stance. Scored 30 Test centuries and 66 half-centuries in 164 matches at an average of 51.37. His biggest knock is 203 not out that he achieved twice; first, against South Africa in Georgetown in 2005 and then versus Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2012. Chanderpaul played in last Test in 2015. Getty

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  7) BRIAN LARA (West Indies) 11,953: Another lefty and one who is widely acknowledged as one of the most gifted of all time. Scored 34 centuries and 48 half centuries in 131 matches, at an average of 52.88. Lara, who still holds the Test batting record for his unbeaten 400 against England in Antigua in 2004, played his last Test in 2006. Getty

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  6) KUMAR SANGAKKARA (Sri Lanka) 12,400 runs: Yes, you've guessed it, another left-hander. Sangakkara, a wicket-keeper batsman, smashed 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries from 134 matches, at a remarkable average of 57.40. He entered the triple-century club when he scored 319 against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2014. Sangakkara played his last Test match in 2015. AFP

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  5) ALASTAIR COOK (England) 12,472 runs: Prolific opening batsman who is his country's most-capped player and has captained the England team in a record 59 Tests. He scored 33 centuries, 57 half-centuries from 161 Tests at an average of 45.35. Cook's biggest score was 294 against India at Edgbaston in 2011. His last Test was in 2018. AP

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  4) RAHUL DRAVID (India) 13,288 runs: 'The Wall' was a relentless run machine and the only player to score a century in all the 10 Test-playing countries. Dravid hit 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries in 164 matches, at an average of 52.31. His highest Test score of 270 came against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 2004. Dravid played his last match in 2012. Getty

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  3) JACQUES KALLIS (South Africa) 13,289 runs: The Proteas' greatest batsman and one of the finest all-rounders to play the game. Kallis is the only player to have scored 10,000 runs and taken more than 250 wickets in both Test and ODI matches. He cracked 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries from 166 matches, at an average of 55.37. He biggest knock of 224 came against Sri Lanka in Cape Town in 2012. Kallis played his last Test in 2013 after edging ahead of Dravid and into the top three by one run. Getty

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  2) RICKY PONTING (Australia) 13,378 runs: One of the game's greatest players and the ultimate competitor. Also considered the most successful captain of all time with 48 victories in 77 Tests. Ponting hit 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries in 168 matches, at an average of 51.85. His biggest Test knock of 257 came against India in Melbourne in 2003. 'Punter' played his last Test in 2012. Getty

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  1) SACHIN TENDULKAR (India) 15,921 runs: 'The Little Master' made his Test debut aged 16 and would go on to become the greatest batsman of his generation - and arguably the finest to have ever played the game. Tendulkar smashed a phenomenal 51 centuries and 68 half centuries from 200 matches, at average of 53.78. He made his highest score of 248 not out against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2004. Tendulkar played his final Test in 2013. Agency

After an enforced absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, it finally appears that international cricket is edging closer to a return.

The West Indies arrived in England on Tuesday for a Test series that is now set to start in July.

The first Test will take place at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl from July 8-12, with the second and third at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 16-20 and July 24-28, respectively.

So with the restart firmly on the horizon, what better time to pay tribute to some of the game's greatest players and remind ourselves about the chart-topping stars with bat and ball, in Test cricket, one-day and Twenty20 internationals.

Kicking-off the series, will be the top 10 highest run scorers in the game's longest form.

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