From Tendulkar to Ponting: List of cricketers who have played most Test matches

Soumyajit Dutta

List of cricketers playing most Test matches in career [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, ImTanujSingh, nispritsingh/X.com]List of cricketers playing most Test matches in career [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, ImTanujSingh, nispritsingh/X.com]

As Mushfiqur Rahim played his 100th Test of his career against Ireland at Dhaka on November 19, 2025, he became the first-ever Bangladeshi player to achieve the rare milestone. While he bagged a unique record for his country, there have been other veterans who played the maximum number of Tests, which defines their legacy with the bat in the Whites.

Here's a complete list of players who had the most number of Test matches in their bag in their career, which consists of many cricket greats alongside the all-time record-holder, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

4) Stuart Broad - 167 Tests

Stuart Broad, the 6'5" towering pacer of England, has been a formidable name in Test cricket since his debut back in 2007. The 39-year-old played 167 Test matches and 309 Test innings in his career, which brags 604 wickets at an average of 27.68 while maintaining an astonishing economy rate of 2.97. 

England has given birth to very few such fiesty cricketers in Test history as Stuart Broad. His partnership with James Anderson, which instilled fear in the hearts of opponents, has pillared England's Test attack for years. His formidable attack with the ball, underlined by his remarkable first session of the Ashes Test of 2015 at Trent Bridge, is something that still gives the Men in Yellow chills.

3) Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting - 168 Tests

Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting are two of the formidable players in Australia who dominated Test cricket both individually as well as side by side. Both these batters were monstrous with their mindset and gameplay, and both of them have played 168 Test matches in their career. 

While Steve Waugh recorded 260 innings, Ricky Ponting played 287 Test innings, accumulating 13,378 runs at an average of 51.85. Ponting faced 22,000-plus balls in the process as he has 41 centuries and 62 fifties to his name. 

Meanwhile, Steve Waugh, who has been an Ashes-winning captain, also piled 10,927 runs from his 260 Test innings at an average of 51.06, while having 32 centuries and 50 half-centuries to his name.

2) James Anderson - 188 Tests

James Jimmy Anderson, the undeniable swing king of England, had a long Test career, and the retired legend featured in 188 Test matches across 350 innings with the ball. 

The six-feet-two-inch towering figure scalped 704 wickets while conceding 18,000 runs at an average of 26.45. He maintained an economy rate of 2.79 while having 32 four-wicket hauls and five-wicket hauls in his career. 

Anderson even has three 10-wicket hauls to his name, with his best bowling in an innings reading the figures of 7 for 42. The Lancashire-born has been a formidable force with the ball and was an integral part of three victorious Ashes campaigns, as he took 15 or more wickets in the series against Australia.

1) Sachin Tendulkar - 200 Tests

Sachin Tendulkar, aka the God of Cricket, played the maximum number of Test matches in the world, which accounts for 200 Tests and 329 innings. From his prolific Test career, Tendulkar garnered 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78 while having 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries to his name. He also holds the record for the most hundreds in both Tests and ODIs. 

Tendulkar also has the highest runs ever recorded by any cricketer in the world in the format. Notably, his 200th Test was also memorable because he announced his retirement from international cricket with an emotional and heartfelt goodbye at Wankhede, thanking his friends, family and fans.