Sunil Gavaskar
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis became the eighth batsman in the history of Test cricket to score 10,000 career runs on the second day of the first Test match against Australia in Johannesburg on February 27, 2009. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman ever to achieve this feat.
Gavaskar got to the landmark in the penultimate Test match of his career against Pakistan in March 1987 at Ahmedabad. Sunny is now the fifth fastest batsman in terms of innings -- 212 -- to get to 10,000 Test runs. He finished his Test career with 10,122 runs in 214 Test innings (125 matches) at an average of 51.12 with a highest score of 236*. Gavaskar scored 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries in his Test career.
Gavaskar got to the landmark in the penultimate Test match of his career against Pakistan in March 1987 at Ahmedabad. Sunny is now the fifth fastest batsman in terms of innings -- 212 -- to get to 10,000 Test runs. He finished his Test career with 10,122 runs in 214 Test innings (125 matches) at an average of 51.12 with a highest score of 236*. Gavaskar scored 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries in his Test career.
Allan Border
Former Australian captain Allan Border was important to his team as much for his batting as he was for his leadership skills. Border took over when the Australian cricket team was going through a transition phase, and set the wheels in motion for the Baggy Greens' domination of world cricket under his successors -- Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Border may not have been the most attractive batsman to watch, but he was a pugnacious customer, who put a huge value on his wicket, as can be seen by the fact that he played in 156 Test matches for his country and scored over 11,000 runs in his Test career. Border, who reached the landmark in his 235th Test innings, ended his career with 11,174 runs in 156 matches (265 innings) at an average of 50.56 with 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries and a highest score of 205.
Border may not have been the most attractive batsman to watch, but he was a pugnacious customer, who put a huge value on his wicket, as can be seen by the fact that he played in 156 Test matches for his country and scored over 11,000 runs in his Test career. Border, who reached the landmark in his 235th Test innings, ended his career with 11,174 runs in 156 matches (265 innings) at an average of 50.56 with 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries and a highest score of 205.
Steve Waugh
It took exactly 10 years for the next batsman to join the 10,000 Test-runs club. And, fittingly, it was one of Allan Border's successors -- Steve Waugh -- who crossed the landmark in the 244th Test innings of his career in Sydney against England in January 2003. Waugh is remembered for putting a huge value on his wicket and withstanding hostile bowling with elan and courage even if it meant taking blows aplenty on his body. He has saved and won many a Test match for Australia with this attitude of his, and is easily one of the most courageous batsmen to have ever played the game.
Waugh, who also played a match-saving knock in his last Test against India in Sydney, scored 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06 from 260 innings in 168 Test matches. Waugh, who has a highest score of 200 in Test matches, also scored 32 centuries and 50 half-centuries in his Test career.
Waugh, who also played a match-saving knock in his last Test against India in Sydney, scored 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06 from 260 innings in 168 Test matches. Waugh, who has a highest score of 200 in Test matches, also scored 32 centuries and 50 half-centuries in his Test career.
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara carried the West Indies' batting on his own for most of his international career. He had all the talent in the world, but it did appear at times that he chose style over staying at the crease, and that is probably the only reason he ended up a few runs short in his international career. That is the sole grouse, if at all, that his fans would have against one of the best-ever batsmen to play the game.
Lara, in fact is the fastest-ever to the 10,000 Test runs landmark, achieving the feat in only his 195th Test innings against England in Manchester in August 2004. Lara, who holds the record for the highest score in a Test innings -- 400* against England -- is one of the five players to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals as well.
Lara scored 11,953 runs from 232 innings in 131 Test matches, including 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries, at an average of 52.88. In 299 ODIs, Lara scored 10,405 runs, including 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries, at an average of 40.48 with a highest score of 169.
Lara, in fact is the fastest-ever to the 10,000 Test runs landmark, achieving the feat in only his 195th Test innings against England in Manchester in August 2004. Lara, who holds the record for the highest score in a Test innings -- 400* against England -- is one of the five players to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals as well.
Lara scored 11,953 runs from 232 innings in 131 Test matches, including 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries, at an average of 52.88. In 299 ODIs, Lara scored 10,405 runs, including 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries, at an average of 40.48 with a highest score of 169.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Tendulkar already holds many cricket records including being the highest run-scorer in Tests and one-day cricket, as well as having the maximum number of centuries in both those formats of the game. Tendulkar, who is the first batsman to cross the 12,000 Test runs landmark, is also the fastest-ever in terms of innings (195) along with West Indian batting legend to score 10,000 Test runs.
Tendulkar has so far scored 12,429 runs at an average of 54.27 from 256 innings in 156 Test matches with a highest score of 248*. He also has 41 centuries and 51 half-centuries to his credit in his Test career. In one-day interationals, Tendulkar has scored 16,440 runs, including 42 centuries and 90 half-centuries in 422 matches at an average of 43.95 with a highest score of 186*.
Tendulkar has so far scored 12,429 runs at an average of 54.27 from 256 innings in 156 Test matches with a highest score of 248*. He also has 41 centuries and 51 half-centuries to his credit in his Test career. In one-day interationals, Tendulkar has scored 16,440 runs, including 42 centuries and 90 half-centuries in 422 matches at an average of 43.95 with a highest score of 186*.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid has been one of the mainstays of the Indian batting line-up for most of his 12 years in international cricket. He always has a calm presence while at the crease and this effect more often than not has rubbed off on his partner at the other end. Dravid has been struggling for runs in recent months, and is no longer a part of India's one-day international team, but his career record is right up there with the best.
Dravid, who reached the 10,000 Test runs in his 206th innings, against Chennai in March 2008, has so far scored 10,509 runs in 131 matches (227 innings), including 26 centuries and 53 half-centuries, and a highest score of 270 at an average of 52.28. Dravid has also scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs -- 10,585 runs at an average of 39.49, including 12 centuries and 81 half-centuries, in 333 ODIs with a highest score of 153.
Dravid, who reached the 10,000 Test runs in his 206th innings, against Chennai in March 2008, has so far scored 10,509 runs in 131 matches (227 innings), including 26 centuries and 53 half-centuries, and a highest score of 270 at an average of 52.28. Dravid has also scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs -- 10,585 runs at an average of 39.49, including 12 centuries and 81 half-centuries, in 333 ODIs with a highest score of 153.
Ricky Ponting
Current Australian captain Ricky Ponting was earmarked for international glory by his coaches and teammates even before he made his international debut. Ponting took some time to maximise his inherent talent, but once he found his feet in international cricket, there has been no holding him back, and he has been Australia's rock at No 3 for most of the last decade, and his batting hasn't been affected too much by the additional burden of captaincy.
Ponting, who took only 196 innings to reach the 10,000 Test runs landmark, is currently the only real challenger to Indian master batsman Sachin Tendulkar's records in Test cricket. Ponting has so far scored 10,858 runs, including 37 centuries and 45 half-centuries from 217 Test innings (129 matches) at an average of 56.84 with a highest score of 257. In ODIs, he has scored 11,365 runs, including 26 centuries and 66 half-centuries at an average of 42.72 in 310 matches, with a highest score of 164.
Ponting, who took only 196 innings to reach the 10,000 Test runs landmark, is currently the only real challenger to Indian master batsman Sachin Tendulkar's records in Test cricket. Ponting has so far scored 10,858 runs, including 37 centuries and 45 half-centuries from 217 Test innings (129 matches) at an average of 56.84 with a highest score of 257. In ODIs, he has scored 11,365 runs, including 26 centuries and 66 half-centuries at an average of 42.72 in 310 matches, with a highest score of 164.
Jacques Kallis
Kallis has to be one of the most under-estimated superstars of the game. He does have the 'greatness' stamp, but doesn't come automatically come to mind, when one thinks of the stylish batsmen to play the game. But what Kallis lacks in style, he makes up for with technique and temperament. As South African captain Graeme Smith said after Kallis reached the 10,000 Test runs landmark, "For a large part of his (Kallis') career he had to carry South Africa's batting and it is this longevity which is one of the signs of true greatness." On his part, Kallis had this to say about the feat: "It does mean a lot to me. But to be honest with you, the difference between 9,999 and 10,000 is one run. But it's probably something I'll look back on when I've finished the game and I'll appreciate it more than I do now."
Kallis has so far scored 10,015 runs from 217 innings in 129 Test matches at an average of 54.42 with a highest score of 189* at an average of 54.42. In one-day internationals, Kallis has scored 10,057 runs, including 16 centuries and 71 half-centuries in 287 matches at an average of 45.30 with a highest score of 139. He has also taken 252 wickets in Test matches and 246 in ODIs. Kallis' Test statistics are at the end of the first innings of the first Test match against Australia in Johannesburg which started on February 26, 2009.
Kallis has so far scored 10,015 runs from 217 innings in 129 Test matches at an average of 54.42 with a highest score of 189* at an average of 54.42. In one-day internationals, Kallis has scored 10,057 runs, including 16 centuries and 71 half-centuries in 287 matches at an average of 45.30 with a highest score of 139. He has also taken 252 wickets in Test matches and 246 in ODIs. Kallis' Test statistics are at the end of the first innings of the first Test match against Australia in Johannesburg which started on February 26, 2009.
