Australia is one of the most successful cricketing nations in the world, especially in the Test format. The Australian cricket team has a long and storied history, featuring some of the greatest players and teams in cricket history.
Australia’s success in Test cricket can be attributed to its strong domestic cricket system, which produces a steady stream of talented players capable of performing at the highest level.
Australia has produced some of the greatest Test batsmen in the history of cricket. Sir Don Bradman is one of the cricketers with the highest batting average in the Test format and is also an Australian cricketer. So, in this article, Let’s talk about the top batsman to score the most test runs for Australia.
Most Test Runs for Australia
1. Ricky Ponting | 13378 runs
Former skipper Ricky Ponting dominates the list to assemble the most test runs for Australia. Ricky Ponting had a stellar Test career that spanned over 17 years from 1995 to 2012. Ponting made his Test debut against Sri Lanka on 8 December 1995 at the age of 20 and is one of the greatest Test batsmen of all time. Ponting has played 168 Test matches and scored 13,378 runs at an impressive average of 51.85. He also scored 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries with a career-best of 257 against India.
Records in Test
Most test centuries (41) for Australia.
First batsman to score 13000 plus runs for Australia in test cricket.
2. Allan Robert Border | 11174 runs
Middle-order batsman Allan Border is 2nd on the list to accumulate the most test runs for Australia. Allan Border had an illustrious Test career that spanned over 16 years from 1978 to 1994. He made his first appearance against England in 1978. Border is the key batsman for Australia in the 80s and he played a pivotal role in turning around the fortunes of the Australian cricket team in the 1980s. He has played 156 Test matches and scored 11,174 runs at an average of 50.56. Border’s Test career included 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries, with his highest score being 205 against Newzeland.
Records in Test:
Most half-centuries (63) in a test for Australia.
First player in history to score 10000 runs in test cricket.
Only player to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in both innings of a test match.
3. Steve Waugh | 10927 runs
Ice Man Steve Waugh make 3rd spot in the list. Waugh is the most Dangerous batsman for Australia in the late 1990s. He made his Test debut against India in 1985 and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Waugh played 168 Test matches for Australia and scored 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06. He also scored 32 Test centuries and 50 half-centuries during his Test career. His career-best is 200 against West Indies.
Also Read: Most Test Runs in a Calendar Year
Records in Test:
Second-most centuries scored in Test cricket for Australia.
Most Test matches played (168) for Australia.
4. Steve Smith | 7555 runs
Steve Smith is a highly accomplished Australian cricketer who has had a brilliant Test career so far. He made his first appearance in 2010 against Pakistan and is one of the greatest batsmen in the Current Era. He is one of the favorite contestants of the Fab Four and has incredible focus and has earned a reputation as a run machine in Test cricket. Smith has played 94 Test matches and amassed 8,718 runs at an average of 60.12. He has scored 30 Test centuries and 37 half-centuries, with the highest score of 239 against England.
Records in Test:
Highest batting average (60.12) in test cricket after Sir Donald Bradman.
Fastest batsman to score 7000, and 8000 runs in Tests.
5. Michael Clarke | 8643 runs
Stylish batsman Michael Clarke makes the 5th spot to score the most Test runs for Australia. Clarke made his Test debut for Australia in 2004 against India in Bangalore. He was a stylish and aggressive batsman who had a great ability to score runs quickly.
Over the course of his Test career, Clarke played in 115 matches for Australia, scoring 8,643 runs at an average of 49.10. He scored 28 Test centuries and 27 half-centuries, with the highest score of 329* against India.
Records in Test:
Most test runs (1595) for Australia in a calendar year.
List of Players with the Most Test Runs for Australia
| Players | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Average | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Ponting | 168 | 287 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 |
| Allan Border | 156 | 265 | 11174 | 205 | 50.56 | 27 | 63 |
| Steve Waugh | 168 | 260 | 10927 | 200 | 51.06 | 32 | 50 |
| Steve Smith | 94 | 166 | 8718 | 239 | 60.12 | 30 | 37 |
| Michael Clarke | 115 | 198 | 8643 | 329* | 49.10 | 28 | 27 |
| Matthew Hayden | 103 | 184 | 8625 | 380 | 50.73 | 30 | 29 |
| David Warner | 103 | 187 | 8158 | 335* | 45.57 | 25 | 34 |
| ME Waugh | 128 | 209 | 8029 | 153* | 41.81 | 20 | 47 |
| Justin Langer | 105 | 182 | 7696 | 250 | 45.27 | 23 | 30 |
| Mark Taylor | 104 | 186 | 7525 | 334* | 43.49 | 19 | 40 |
| DC Boon | 107 | 190 | 7422 | 200 | 43.65 | 21 | 32 |
| GS Chappell | 87 | 151 | 7110 | 247* | 53.86 | 24 | 31 |
| Don Bradman | 52 | 80 | 6996 | 334 | 99.94 | 29 | 13 |
| Michael Hussey | 79 | 137 | 6235 | 195 | 51.52 | 19 | 29 |
| RV Harvey | 79 | 137 | 6149 | 205 | 48.41 | 21 | 24 |
| Adam Gilchrist | 96 | 137 | 5570 | 204* | 47.60 | 17 | 26 |
| KD Walters | 74 | 125 | 5357 | 250 | 48.26 | 15 | 33 |
| Ian Chappell | 75 | 136 | 5345 | 196 | 42.42 | 14 | 26 |
| MJ Salter | 74 | 131 | 5312 | 219 | 42.83 | 14 | 21 |
| WM Lawry | 67 | 123 | 5234 | 210 | 47.15 | 13 | 27 |
| RB Simpson | 62 | 111 | 4869 | 311 | 46.81 | 10 | 27 |
| IR Redpath | 66 | 120 | 4737 | 171 | 43.45 | 8 | 31 |
| KJ Hughes | 70 | 124 | 4415 | 213 | 37.41 | 9 | 22 |
| DR Martyn | 67 | 109 | 4406 | 165 | 46.37 | 13 | 23 |
Questions
Who has scored the most test runs for Australia?
Ricky Ponting has scored the most test runs For Australia. Ponting has played 168 Test matches and scored 13,378 runs at an impressive average of 51.85.
Who has scored the most test hundreds for Australia?
Ricky Ponting has scored the most test hundreds (41) for Australia.