In cricket, playing 100 Test matches is considered a massive achievement. Players who have played 100 test matches or more are in minimal numbers. Only 74 cricketers have completed 100 Test matches in 144 years of Test cricket. Not many cricketers can achieve 100 games in their test career. Either they retire before that or do not get the opportunity to play the test matches so often. It is a tremendous accomplishment for the cricketer and the country they represent.Below is the list of 10 players who have played 100 test matches or more and became the first to do so for their country.
1. Allan Border
Allan Border played 156 Tests and scored 11,174 runs in his Test career. He was the first Australian to do so for his team. He was considered stubborn and one of the best captains for Australia, and he led his team to the World Cup title in 1987. At the time of Kerry Packer World Series, he played a crucial role for his team. Under his captaincy, he helped his team retain the Ashes in 1990–91 and 1993.
2. Javed Miandad
Miandad is a former Pakistani cricketer who played 124 test matches and scored 8,832 runs for his country. He was the second player to reach the milestone of 100 test matches, after Allan Border. He was well known for his captaincy and batting style. He devoted 21 years to becoming one of the greatest captains and batsmen in Pakistan cricket history. He is well known for his legendary last-ball big six against India in 1986 at Sharjah. After retirement, he still plays a vital role on the Pakistan cricket board.
3. Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar is known as one of the best Indian openers of all time. Gavaskar was known for his fantastic technique in opposition to fast bowling. Gavaskar played his 100th Test in 1984 against Pakistan in Lahore. He became the first batsman in Test cricket to score 10,000 runs. Gavaskar played 125 test matches scoring 10,122 runs, with 34 100s and 45 50s. His captaincy was considered one of the first attacking ones. He led India to win the Asia Cup in 1984 and the Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket in 1985. Gavaskar received the Arjuna Award and the civilian honor of the Padma Bhushan.
4. Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten was a fine cricketer who played a key role for his team. He played a total of 101 Test matches and scored 7,289 runs. Kirsten made his Test debut in 1993 against Australia in Melbourne. He retired from international cricket after scoring a match-winning 76 against New Zealand. He coached the Indian Cricket Team from 2008 to 2011 and helped India win the 2011 World Cup.
5. Colin Cowdrey
Cowdrey was a right-handed batsman who played 114 test matches and scored 7,642 runs at an average of 44.06 runs per innings. He was a respected player and a captain. He played his 100th Test against Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham in 1968. He is known for participating in a massive 411-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Peter May against the West Indies at Edgbaston in 1957. Cowdrey scored 154, while May scored an unbeaten 285 as the West Indies fought to save the Test.
6. Clive Lloyd
Lloyd was a great captain of his time. He played for the West Indies and was considered the best captain who got along well with his teammates. He played 110 test matches, scoring 7,515 runs at an average of 46.67. Since his retirement as a cricketer, Lloyd has been continuously involved in cricket, managing the West Indies in the late 1990s and doing coaching and commentary. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
7. Stephen Fleming
Fleming is a New Zealand cricket coach and former captain of the New Zealand national cricket team, who is currently the head coach of IPL team Chennai Super Kings. He was a great captain and a stylish left-hand batsman. Fleming played a total of 111 test matches, scoring a total of 7,172 runs. Fleming led his team to three World Cups but unfortunately could not win. Later in 2000, he led New Zealand to their first ICC title, the Champions Trophy. He has won five IPL trophies with the Chennai Super Kings, the most by any other coach in the world.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a great captain. He is known as one of the most incredible batters of all time. As a captain, he led his team to one of the joint winners of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with India. He played 110 test matches in total, with a score of 6,973 runs. He retired from test cricket in 2007. In 2013 he was appointed as chairman of the cricket selection committee. During his tenure as chief selector, Sri Lanka won the ICC World Twenty20 for the first time in 2014.
9. Sir Geoffrey Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott is a former Test cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England. He was the most successful opening batsman. In his fantastic playing career from 1962 to 1986, he has played 108 test matches, scoring 8,114 runs. He was known for his ability to hold the crease and became a staple of England's Test batting line-up for many years. He was not famous among his teammates; journalist Ian Wooldridge commented that he was a ‘lonely player’ and ‘walks alone.’ Others have said that because of his introverted nature, he might have seen that he was obsessed with his success, but he was not a selfish player by nature.
10. David Gower
David Ivon Gower is an English cricket commentator who was the captain of the England cricket team during the 1980s. He was the most famous left-handed batsman and run scorer of his time. He played a total of 117 test matches, scoring 8231 runs. Gower captained his team during the 1985 Ashes and won gloriously, but the two 5-0 whitewashes against the West Indies cost him his captaincy. He holds the record for 119 consecutive innings without registering a duck in Test cricket and is the only player to do so. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
