Team Wise Most Capped Players In Test Cricket

Test cricket arguably remains the purest form of the game and has remained so since its advent in 1877. Despite the extravagant nature of the limited-overs cricket, Test cricket has its own place in the purists’ hearts and is not likely to vanish anytime soon. Hence, most upcoming cricketers would like to play the longest format and accumulate as many records as possible.

As such, there have been a plethora of players who have come and gone and conquered Test cricket by accomplishing innumerable records. While a considerable number of players get to represent their country in Test cricket, only a few manage to play an enormous amount of Tests. Their longevity often acts as an example for their fellow teammates or countrymen as well to maintain the fitness levels required to stay longer.

We take a look at Team Wise Most Capped Players In Test Cricket:

Zimbabwe – Grant Flower:

Zimbabwe began its Test cricket journey back in 1992 by playing its first Test against Harare. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe has so far featured in only 124 Tests since its inaugural five-day match 29 years ago. Of those, the African nation has won only 13 and seven of them came against Bangladesh, while Zimbabwe has also beat Pakistan and India thrice and twice each.

Meanwhile, their most-capped Test player is Grant Flower. Grant Flower has featured in 67 Tests, scoring 3457 runs at 29.54, alongside six centuries. Flower’s highest score of 201* came against Pakistan in Harare in 1995, while his final Test was in 2004 against Bangladesh in Bulawayo. Currently, he is serving as Sri Lanka’s batting coach and previously did for Pakistan.

Bangladesh – Mushfiqur Rahim:

Though Bangladesh has taken rapid strides in Test cricket in recent times, they are yet to reach their full potential in the format. Bangladesh, who played its first Test in 2000 against India, has secured only 14 Test victories so far and the most they have emerged victorious is against Zimbabwe with seven. As a good measure, Bangladesh has beaten Australia and England once each in the last five years.

Meanwhile, keeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim is their most-capped player in Test cricket so far, with 74 Test appearances. The 34-year old has carried the hopes of the Test team for years now via his dogged display, scoring 4685 runs at 37.18, laced with seven centuries. Rahim’s best score of 219 came against Zimbabwe in Dhaka back in November 2018.

Sri Lanka – Mahela Jayawardene:

In 1982, Sri Lanka became the eighth country to play Test cricket when in Colombo, they got to lock horns against England. Though Sri Lanka lost that Test convincingly by seven wickets, the Asian nation soon produced a promising cricketing outfit. Yet, Sri Lanka has a lot to conquer for a team that has been playing since 1982.

Sri Lanka’s most capped player in Test cricket is their former skipper Mahela Jayawardene. The classy right-handed batsman has featured in a staggering 149 Tests, accumulating 11814 runs at 49.84 with 34 centuries. Jayawardene’s highest score of 374 arrived against South Africa back in 2006 in Colombo.

West Indies – Shivnarine Chanderpaul:

West Indies were once the powerhouse in world cricket, steamrolling every opponent that came their way. The 1970s and 1980s saw the Caribbeans put together a world-class team, capable of beating any nation, irrespective of the venue. The likes of Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Michael Holding, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Joel Garner, and Andy Robers formed a nucleus of the side.

But the West Indies have undergone a sharp downfall as the current outfit largely remains inconsistent in the longest format. But there are promising players who could revive their fortunes. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is their most-capped player in Tests, featuring in 164 fixtures, accumulating 11867 runs at 51.37 with 30 tons. The dogged batsman is one of the unsung heroes in their history.

South Africa – Jacques Kallis:

South Africa was once the best travellers as they performed expertly even in alien conditions. Though South Africa played their first Test back in 1889, the Aparathied movement forced it to stay out of international cricket from 1970 till 1992. The Proteas returned in a losing effort against the West Indies in 1992 in the only Test at the Bridgetown in Barbados.

One of the best all-rounders in Test cricket history, Jacques Kallis has a record 166 Test appearances for South Africa. The seam-bowling all-rounder has amassed 13289 runs and picked up 292 scalps. In addition, Kallis accumulated a jaw-dropping 45 centuries in his career, along with two double centuries. The retired cricketer’s best score of 201* arrived against India in 2013 at the Centurion.

Pakistan – Javed Miandad:

Pakistan are undeniably one of the most exciting teams in cricket history, irrespective of the format. Though Pakistan has been in the middle of controversies on numerous occasions, they have given world cricket some of the best fast bowlers in history. The men in green featured in their first Test against Delhi in India and lost, but bounced back in Lucknow to register their inaugural win in the format.

Pakistan’s most-capped player in Test cricket remains their former skipper Javed Miandad. Javed Miandad, Pakistan’s former coach, is amongst the greatest cricketer to emerge from the country and scored 8832 Test runs at 52.57 with 23 centuries. Miandad played international cricket for a staggering 20 years and played an integral role in their 1992 World Cup win.

New Zealand – Daniel Vettori:

New Zealand has been the underdog Test-playing nation for the most part; however, their recent results have proven they are ready to take the leap. The Kiwis are one of the lethal outfits today and started becoming consistent so under the leadership of Brendon McCullum. Their current skipper Kane Williamson has carried forward the success and led the side equally well.

The Black Caps’ most-capped player in Test cricket is former skipper Daniel Vettori. While primarily a bowler, the former left-arm spinner has over 4000 Test runs at 30.15 with six Test centuries. With 361 scalps in 112 Tests under his belt, the 42-year old is New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. He also led the nation for a few years.

England – James Anderson:

England was one of the first nations to play Test cricket when it was a six-day affair, beginning in 1877. Though the sport is believed to have started in England, the nation itself has been a late bloomer across formats. The Englishmen lost its first Test against Australia by 45 runs in Melbourne; however, they bounced back to beat their arch-rivals by four wickets at the same iconic venue.

England’s veteran seamer, James Anderson, aged 38, currently playing his 162nd Test, became the most-capped player for its nation, surpassing Alastair Cook’s 161. Anderson is also the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket amongst pacemen, taking 616 scalps at 26.59 after debuting in 2003. He likely remains destined to play till 40.

Australia – Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh:

Australia is perhaps the most successful Test cricket country and one of those alongside South Africa to record series wins in all the top Test-playing nations. Australia has played its most Tests against England, playing a whopping 351 and winning 146 out of those. They have also beat their arch-rivals thrice by 5-0 in a Test series in 1920, 2006-07, and 2013-14.

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, with 168 Tests, hold the record for the most appearances for them in the format. Nevertheless, Ponting is their highest run-getter in Test cricket, with 13378 runs at 51.85 with a record 41 tons. Ponting, who played his last Test in 2012, is also Australia’s most successful captain in the format with 48 victories in 77 fixtures.

India – Sachin Tendulkar:

The Indian team is one of the oldest teams to play the purest form of cricket and has produced some of the most legendary players. The men in blue share a fierce rivalry with the likes of Pakistan, Australia, and England in the longest format. The likes of Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Sunil Gavaskar, amongst many others, are responsible for their rise.

Amongst those, Sachin Tendulkar remains the highest-capped player for India and in Test cricket history with a mind-boggling 200 appearances from 1989 to 2013. With 15921 runs and 51 hundreds, Tendulkar is also the highest run-getter and century-maker in the format. The 48-year old arguably is one of the greatest cricketing icons of the century and it’s unlikely for anyone to go past his record 200 Test appearances.

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