5 Fastest Batters To Reach 13000 Test Runs

Soumyajit Dutta

Joe Root [Source: @Wessy_x/X]Joe Root [Source: @Wessy_x/X]

In the glorious record books of Test cricket, crossing the 13,000-run mark stands as a monumental testament to a batter’s skill, endurance, and longevity. Only a handful of legends have etched their legacy into this rarefied feat. Recently, Joe Root etched his name besides the legends during the ongoing Zimbabwe tour.

This listicle celebrates the five fastest batters to conquer Mount 13,000 in Test cricket. From modern-day maestros like Joe Root to timeless technicians, here's the list of batters who touched this feat in Whites (in terms of innings).

5. Joe Root (279 Innings)

Joe Root, a pillar of England's test cricket and a modern-day legend just completed his 13000 Test runs against Zimbabwe in the Only Test that started on May 22, 2025. It was Root's 279th Test innings and he scored 34 runs at Trent Bridge to cross the 13,000 runs barrier. Currently, Root averages 50.80 with 36 centuries to his name in the Whites.

4. Rahul Dravid (277 Innings)

Rahul Dravid, widely known as "The Wall," completed 13,000 Test runs against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium on November 22, 2011. Making his debut on June 20, 1996, Dravid reached the milestone in 160 matches and 277 innings, spanning 15 years and 155 days. 

3. Ricky Ponting (275 Innings)

Ricky Ponting crossed the 13,000-run barrier during the Test match against India in Adelaide on January 24, 2012. The former Australian captain took 162 matches and 275 innings to reach the milestone, having debuted on December 8, 1995. Ponting’s aggressive style, powerful pull shots, and unmatched intensity made him one of the most feared batters of his time. 

2. Jacques Kallis (269 Innings)

Jacques Kallis reached the 13,000-run mark in Tests against New Zealand at Cape Town on January 2, 2013. Having debuted on December 14, 1995, he reached the milestone in 159 matches and 269 innings, taking 17 years and 19 days. Kallis was the ultimate all-rounder of his era, combining solid technique with the ability to anchor innings under pressure.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (266 Innings)

Sachin Tendulkar, aka, the 'Master Blaster' became the first and also the fastest player in Test cricket history to reach 13,000 runs. He achieved this milestone on January 17, 2010, against Bangladesh in Chattogram, nearly 20 years after making his debut on November 15, 1989. It took Tendulkar 163 matches and 266 innings to get there, underlining his consistency and dominance over two decades.