Cricket's Greatest World Records — Runs, Wickets and More
Cricket's world records span over 150 years of the game. Learn the most important individual records — most Test runs, most Test wickets, highest score, fastest century — and why records matter in cricket culture.
Cricket's world records are part of the sport's mythology — statistics that have stood for decades and define the greatest achievements in the game. From Sachin Tendulkar's Test run tally to Brian Lara's quadruple century, these records are the benchmarks against which every generation of players is measured.
Most runs in Test cricket
Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the record with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests at an average of 53.78. He is the only batter to score 100 international centuries across all formats combined (100 international centuries: 51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs). Ricky Ponting (Australia) is second with 13,378 Test runs.
Most wickets in Test cricket
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) holds the Test wicket record with 800 wickets in 133 matches at 22.72 average. Shane Warne (Australia) is second with 708 wickets. James Anderson (England) has the most wickets by a pace bowler (over 700 at time of retirement).
Highest individual innings — Test cricket
Brian Lara (West Indies) holds the record for the highest individual innings in Test cricket: 400 not out vs England at Antigua in 2004. He broke his own previous record of 375 (vs England, Antigua, 1994). The highest in ODIs is 264 by Rohit Sharma (India) vs Sri Lanka in 2014.
Fastest century
AB de Villiers (South Africa) holds the record for the fastest ODI century: 31 balls vs West Indies in January 2015. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) held the record for 18 years (37 balls vs Sri Lanka in 1996) before de Villiers. The fastest Test century is 56 balls by Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) vs Australia in 2014.
Most wickets in a Test innings
Jim Laker (England) took 10 wickets in a single innings vs Australia at Old Trafford in 1956 — the only time any bowler has taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. He also took 9 wickets in the first innings of the same match, giving him 19/90 for the entire Test.
T20 records
The highest T20I score is 175 not out by Rohit Sharma (India) vs Sri Lanka in 2017. The most T20I wickets is held by Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) with 100+ T20I wickets. The fastest T20I fifty is 8 balls by Yuvraj Singh (India) vs England in 2007 — the same innings in which he hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in one over.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the most runs in Test cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar (India) holds the record with 15,921 Test runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78.
Who has taken the most wickets in Test cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) holds the record with 800 Test wickets in 133 matches at an average of 22.72.
What is the highest individual score in Test cricket?
Brian Lara (West Indies) holds the record with 400 not out vs England at Antigua in 2004.
Who scored the fastest century in ODI cricket?
AB de Villiers (South Africa) holds the record with a century off 31 balls vs West Indies in January 2015.