Cricket
Top Batsmen: Fastest to 10000 runs in Test cricket
Hitting a milestone is always a special feat in cricket but it becomes even more special when it comes to Test cricket.
Test cricket is touted as the purest format of the game. The red-ball cricket tests the patience, grit, determination and skills of both batters as well as the bowlers. It’s fair to say that Test cricket is not for everyone but those who step into this, have to thrive the challenge and many have graced the format in such an astonishing way that they have ended up turning into legends.
Hitting a milestone is always a special feat in cricket but it becomes even more special when it comes to Test cricket. The biggest feat in the longest format of the game is to get to 10000 runs and there have been only a few stalwarts who have achieved the same. In this piece, we will take a look at Fastest to 10000 runs in Test cricket.
Fastest to 10000 runs in Test cricket
| Player | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date | Debut | Mat | Inns |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | v England | Manchester | 12 Aug 2004 | 6 Dec 1990 | 111 | 195 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | v Pakistan | Eden Gardens | 16 Mar 2005 | 15 Nov 1989 | 122 | 195 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | v Australia | Melbourne | 26 Dec 2012 | 20 Jul 2000 | 115 | 195 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | v West Indies | North Sound | 30 May 2008 | 8 Dec 1995 | 118 | 196 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | v South Africa | Chennai | 26 Mar 2008 | 20 Jun 1996 | 120 | 206 |
| Younis Khan | Pakistan | v West Indies | Kingston | 21 Apr 2017 | 26 Feb 2000 | 116 | 208 |
| Mahela Jayawardena | Sri Lanka | v South Africa | Durban | 26 Dec 2011 | 2 Aug 1997 | 127 | 210 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | India | v Pakistan | Ahmedabad | 4 Mar 1987 | 6 Mar 1971 | 124 | 212 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | v Australia | Johannesburg | 26 Feb 2009 | 14 Dec 1995 | 129 | 217 |
| Joe Root | England | v New Zealand | Lord’s | 2 Jun 2022 | 13 Dec 2012 | 118 | 218 |
Brian Lara reaching 10000 runs in 195 Test innings
The fastest to 10000 Test runs is West Indies legend Brian Lara. Rated as the Caribbean batter, the left-hander achieved the feat in just 195 innings in his career. In what was his 111 match in the longest format of the game, Lara surpassed the 10000-run mark while playing against England in 2004. He was the first-ever player to hit the incredible milestone and his record to do it the fastest still remains intact. He ended his career with 11953 runs in 232 innings at an average of 52.88. The southpaw also hit 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries in his career.
Sachin Tendulkar reaching 10000 runs in 195 innings
Image Credit: BCCI Twitter (X) Account
Batting great Sachin Tendulkar also is the joint fastest to the 10000 runs in Test cricket. The former India skipper also achieved the feat in his 195th innings and equalled Brian Lara in the feat. His impact on the game was massive as he was the second player to go past ten thousand runs in the longest format of the game. He hit the milestone in his 122nd game against Pakistan at Eden Gardens in 2005. Sachin holds the record for most Test hundreds with 50 tons under his belt. He is also the leading run-maker in the format with 15921 runs to his name at an average of 53.78 in 200 games, which is the most number of matches by any player in Tests.
Kumar Sangakkara reaching 10000 runs in 195 innings
Another player who reached 10000 runs in Test cricket in 195 innings was Sri Lanka Legend Kumar Sangakkara. The former skipper of the team was one of the most consistent batters for his team as he achieved incredible things for the nation. He hit the 10000-run mark in the game against Australia in 2005, which was also his 115th game in the longest format of the game. Being the third player to ten thousand runs in Tests, he ended his career with 12400 runs at an average of 57.40 including 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries.
Ricky Ponting reaching reaching 10000 runs in 196 innings
Australia’s very own Ricky Ponting is also amongst the fastest to 10000 runs in Test cricket. The former skipper of the team achieved the feat in his 196th innings and it came during the game against West Indies in 2008. Known as the most aggressive player, Ponting played a massive role in the dominance of the Australian team. He arguably was one of the best players to have played for the team in the longest format of the game, amassing 13778 runs at an average of 51.85. He also slammed 41 tons and 62 fifties in his Test career.
Rahul Dravid reaching 10000 runs in 206 innings
The Wall of Indian Cricket Rahul Dravid is the second Indian in the list of fastest to 10000 runs in Test cricket. The former India captain surpassed the milestone in his 206th innings for the team. The right-hander achieved the feat in the game against South Africa, which was his 120th game for the team. He made his debut for the team in 1996 and ended as one of the greatest players of all time. In his career, he mustered 13288 runs at an average of 52.31 to go with 36 centuries and 63 fifties.
FAQs
Vinod Kambli is the fastest Indian to reach 1000 runs in Test cricket. He achieved the feat in his 14th innings while playing against West Indies in 1994 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He ended his career with 1084 runs at an average of around 55 to go with 4 tons and 3 fifties.
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar is the fastest Indian to score 5000 runs in Test cricket. The former skipper of the team achieved the feat in his 95th innings. The special milestone came in the game against Australia in Bengaluru in 1979.
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