Top 10 active batsmen with most runs in Test cricket

Test cricket is known as the longest and the purest form of cricket. It is the battle of attrition which continues over the course of 5 gruelling days. A batsman's, as well as a bowler's greatness in the sport, is judged by their ability to thrive in the longest form of the game.

The 3 active formats in cricket have ensured that the cricketers can pick and choose the kind of format that suits their ability which can become the measure of their success. But, this does not necessarily lead to them being classified as a great all format batsman or bowler.

These cricketers can safeguard their legacy by plying their trade in the longest format which becomes a testament to their ability. These cricketers who would have made their names in the longest format of the game by proving their mettle go on to register their names in pantheons of greats.

The purists and fanatics have over the years debated and agreed that cricket is a simple game between a bat and ball. The fact of the matter is that both the batter and the bowler will not be able to co-exist without each other in this sport because of the small margins of error.

The batter and the bowler will have to work in tandem to determine the result of the match. This has led to some great batsman that have graced the game of cricket to go against some aggressive bowlers who themselves have been at the very best with the bowl.

So, on that note here is a list of the Top 10 active batsmen who continue to pile on runs around the world in the days of spiteful pitches and unfair home advantages-

NOTE: This list will take into account the batsmen who have been selected and played in a test for their respective countries in 2018. So, batsmen like Chris Gayle(7214 runs) and Ian Bell(7727 runs) do not make the cut.

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#10 Cheteshwar Pujara-India

Cheteshwar Pujara 132* Against England, Southampton

Cheteshwar Pujara had made a triple hundred at the Under-14 level and a double hundred at the Under-19 level. The unquenchable thirst for runs in the first class cricket forced the selectors to include him in the Test side. He impressed on his debut with a gutsy 72* in 4th innings of a tricky run chase against Australia in 2010.

While his ability at the longest format was never in doubt, it was his dry spell of runs outside the subcontinent that raised a few eyebrows. A dominant bottom-handed player with supple wrists and a solid defence has made him a natural successor to his mentor and idol, Rahul Dravid.

Record: 62 TESTS/ 105 INNINGS/ 4809 RUNS/ 49.57 AVG/ 15 100's/ 18 50's/ HIGHEST: 206*

#9 Angelo Matthews - Sri Lanka

Angelo Matthews lord's century

Angelo Matthews has gone from strength to strength from batting in lower middle order under the tutelage of Sri-Lankan batting greats Sangakkara and Jayawardene to becoming the lynchpin in batting in the Lankan middle order. He has had a pretty eventful captaincy career that has made his stocks rise as an all-round cricketer and made him an astute captain.

The Sri Lankan cricket off-late has been having a torrid time due to an unfortunate and unusually long transition period. This has led them to lose matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan and surrender against quality sides like India and South Africa in the recent past. So it will be a responsibility for guys like Matthews to step up in these tough times for Sri Lanka.

RECORD:75 TESTS/ 134 INNINGS/ 5073 RUNS/ 43.35 AVG/ 8 100's/ 29 50's/ HIGHEST:160

#8 Azhar Ali - Pakistan

Azhar Ali scored a sublime 205* against Australia at the MCG

Pakistan has found a reliable top order batsman in Azhar Ali who rose to occasions many a time for his country that was not allowed to play cricket in their own home. He made his debut at Lord's against Australia in 2010 and has not looked back ever since in the longest format of the game. He has a water-tight technique with paramount levels of concentration.

He is able to bat at any position in the top order but the #3 position has suited him the most. He has scored 3530 runs to go along with 10 centuries and 21 fifties in that position at an average of 44.13. He has carved out his niche in the longest format of the sport that suits his batting and phlegmatic temperament.

RECORD:65 TESTS/ 124 INNINGS/ 5202 RUNS/ 44.84 AVG/ 14 100's/ 28 50's/ HIGHEST:302*

#7 Kane Willamson - New Zealand

Kane Williamson celebrates after scoring a test century

Kane Willamson has been New Zealand's greatest find since the retirement of the legendary batsman Martin Crowe. Kane's name was being echoed around cricketing circles ever since his teenage days with comparisons to the all-time great batsman of the game also doing the rounds.

He is part of the famous quartet of batsman which includes some illustrious names like Kohli, Smith, and Root. He has a pretty good technique to go along with a temperament of performing in every condition all around the world. The 18th Test century saw him go past Crowe's record and he is well on his way to becoming New Zealand's greatest ever batsman.

RECORD:65 TESTS/ 116 INNINGS/ 5338 RUNS/ 50.35 AVG/ 18 100's/ 26 50's/ HIGHEST:242*

#6 Virat Kohli - India

Virat Kohli winning man of the match trophy against England

Virat Kohli is arguably the best batsman of his generation and is also part of a fabled quartet of batsmen. The enviable record that he has in the limited overs format makes him a cut above the rest but it is his recent domination in the longest format that makes his credentials as a reliable Test batsman commendable.

He recently avenged the aberration of the 2014 tour to England by scoring 593 runs across 5 tests matches at an average of 59.30 in the 2018 tour. He was successful in exorcising his demons in England by scoring a majestic 149 in his very first outing in whites in England. This form in Tests which started with 692 runs in 4 tests in Australia last time around shows how much he has improved as a test batsman and lofty standards he has set for himself.

RECORD:71 TESTS/ 122 INNINGS/ 6147 RUNS/ 53.92 AVG/ 23 100's/ 19 50's/ HIGHEST:243

#5 Steve Smith - Australia

Steve Smith celebrates after scoring a test century

Before all the sandpaper fiasco and much before the South African tour, Steve Smith was being hailed as the next Bradman to have come out of Australia. It was his numbers in Tests that were doing the bulk of the talking. The uncanny technique with which he plays the format coupled with strokes all around the ground made him a dangerous batsman to contend with.

But it was not to be as the South African tour became disastrous both personally and professionally. He tarnished his image as a captain and all the accolades that he deservedly earned were now looked down upon. Nonetheless, it will be a test of his character after he makes a comeback from the ban which will only add to his short but eventful legacy.

RECORD:64 TESTS/ 117 INNINGS/ 6199 RUNS/ 61.37 AVG/ 23 100's/ 24 50's/ HIGHEST:239

#4 Joe Root - England

Joe Root celebrates after scoring his first test century in over a year.

Joe Root is another batsman of the batting quartet coming from a rich cricketing history who has the potential of becoming the greatest ever batsman produced by England. This will be a tough accolade to have given the number of great batsmen that have come out of English shores but Root has the temperament and the ability to become one.

The unusual English trait of playing spin well and being adept at playing pace, Root has all the strokes in his armoury to be successful all around the world. The only thing that he has to rectify is his conversion rate from 50's to 100's. While no other technical deficiencies, he will have to step up in his batting to lead from the front as the captain of the England side.

RECORD:74 TESTS/ 135 INNINGS/ 6279 RUNS/ 51.04 AVG/ 14 100's/ 41 50's/ HIGHEST:254

#3 Ross Taylor - New Zealand

Ross Taylor's famous tongue poking celebration after scoring a test century

Ross Taylor has been the batting mainstay of the New Zealand middle order for over a decade now. He has amassed over 6000 runs in both the ODI and Test formats of the sport. He has played all the roles from a pinch-hitter to a sheet anchor for his team with aplomb and continues to do so in all formats of the game.

The understated approach with which he goes about his game and the runs that he has accumulated over the years is a testament to his longevity and dedication towards his craft. He is less talked about when we talk about the great batsmen of the game but he will definitely be much talked about in the international circles after his swan song from the sport.

RECORD:85 TESTS/ 152 INNINGS/ 6281 RUNS/ 47.22 AVG/ 17 100's/ 28 50's/ HIGHEST:290

#2 David Warner - Australia

David Warner celebrates after scoring his Ashes century

David Warner has been a live-wire on the field and an emotional being off it. The trails and tribulations he has had with the media and various run-ins with the opposition players do not diminish his batting talent as an opening batsman. Along with the batting maestro Smith, they have become the spearheads in the batting department for Australia for close to a decade now.

If we are to look past his on-field antics then he is an explosive left-handed batsman who has the ability to change the course of a Test match in a matter of a session. He scores his runs at a breakneck pace with the ability to convert his starts into big daddy hundreds. The holder of 35 international centuries, it will be a test of character for him on the field after the ban.

RECORD:74 TESTS/ 137 INNINGS/ 6363 RUNS/ 48.20 AVG/ 21 100's/ 29 50's/ HIGHEST:253

#1 Hashim Amla - South Africa

Hashim Amla after scoring a test century against England

The pinnacle of this list is occupied by a player who despite religious and ethnic limitations in a country with apartheid history has been able to etch his name in the list of greatest batsmen that have graced this beautiful sport. The batsman is none other than Hashim Amla, from being credited a test specialist to a meteoric rise in the ODI format Amla has seen it all.

He has played many knocks of consequence for his team and has bailed them out many times due to his impeccable stroke-making ability. While the coveted World Cup trophy has eluded him as well as his team because of their infamous collapses in the tournament, Amla will look back on his career as a well deserved and cherished one, when he decides to call it a day.

RECORD:119 TESTS/ 205 INNINGS/ 9022 RUNS/ 47.23 AVG/ 28 100's/ 39 50's/ HIGHEST:311*