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The first ever international cricket match was played between Canada and the USA in 1844, in New York. During those days, each over consisted of just four deliveries. Since then, cricket as a sport has come a very long way. Rules have changed, new formats have been introduced, the use of technology is increasing by the day, and of course, the number of people following the sport has gone up.
Over the course of 173 years of international cricket, the following players have scored the most number of runs across all formats for their respective countries.
Note: Only Test playing nations have been analyzed in this slideshow, including Afghanistan and Ireland who were recently included by the ICC in the list of permanent members.
AFGHANISTAN
Mohammad Shahzad is the highest run scorer for his nation across all formats (ODIs and T20Is; Afghanistan are yet to play a Test match). He has scored 3,680 runs in 116 matches at an average of 33.15 and a strike rate of 108.84. Shahzad has five centuries and 21 half-centuries to his name.
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His career-best score came against Zimbabwe at Sharjah on 29th December 2015, when he scored an unbeaten 131 in an ODI.
AUSTRALIA
Ricky Ponting is the highest run scorer for Australia across all formats so far. He has scored 27,483 runs in 560 matches at an average of 45.95 and a strike rate of 68.48. Ponting has 71 centuries and 146 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against India at Melbourne on 26th December 2003, when he scored 257 in a Test match.
He announced his retirement from international cricket on 29th November 2012.
BANGLADESH
Tamim Iqbal is the highest run scorer for Bangladesh across all formats so far. He has scored 10,909 runs in 285 matches at an average of 33.98 and a strike rate of 70.37. Iqbal has 18 centuries and 66 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Pakistan at Khulna on 28th April 2015, when he scored 206 in a Test match.
He is still an active player for Bangladesh
ENGLAND
Alastair Cook is the highest run scorer for England across all formats so far. He has scored 14,956 runs in 245 matches at an average of 43.10 and a strike rate of 51.29. Cook has 36 centuries and 74 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against India at Birmingham on 10th August 2011, when he scored 294 in a Test match.
He still plays Test cricket for England.
INDIA
Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run scorer for India across all formats so far. He has scored 34,357 runs in 664 matches at an average of 48.52 and a strike rate of 67.58. Tendulkar has 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Bangladesh at Dhaka on 10th December 2004, when he scored an unbeaten 248 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 16th November 2013.
IRELAND
William Porterfield is the highest run scorer for Ireland across all formats (ODIs and T20Is; Ireland are yet to play a Test match). He has scored 4,274 runs in 165 matches at an average of 28.11 and a strike rate of 75.35. Porterfield has nine centuries and 17 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Afghanistan at Greater Noida on 15th March 2017, when he scored 119 in an ODI.
He is still an active player for Ireland.
NEW ZEALAND
Stephen Fleming is the highest run scorer for New Zealand across all formats so far. He has scored 15,319 runs in 396 matches at an average of 35.46 and a strike rate of 56.78. Fleming has 17 centuries and 95 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Sri Lanka at Colombo on 25th April 2003, when he scored an unbeaten 274 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 22nd March 2008.
PAKISTAN
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq is the highest run scorer for Pakistan across all formats so far. He scored 20,580 runs in 499 matches at an average of 43.32 and a strike rate of 63.96. Inzamam has 35 centuries and 129 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against New Zealand at Lahore on 1st May 2002, when he scored 329 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 8th October 2007.
SOUTH AFRICA
Jacques Kallis is the highest run-scorer for South Africa across all formats of the game. He scored 25,534 runs in 519 matches at an average of 49.10 and a strike rate of 56.30. Kallis has 62 centuries and 149 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Sri Lanka at Cape Town on 3rd January 2012, when he scored 224 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 12th July 2014.
SRI LANKA
Kumar Sangakkara is the highest run scorer for Sri Lanka across all formats so far. He has scored 28,016 runs in 594 matches at an average of 46.77 and a strike rate of 66.56. Sangakkara has 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries to his name.
His career-best score across all formats came against Bangladesh at Chittagong on 4th February 2014, when he scored 319 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 20th August 2015.
WEST INDIES
Brian Lara is the highest run-scorer for West Indies across all formats. He scored 22,358 runs in 430 matches at an average of 46.28 and a strike rate of 68.08. Lara has 53 centuries and 111 half-centuries to his name.
Lara did not play a single international T20 match in his career.
His career-best score across all formats came against England at St. John's on 10th April 2004, when he scored an unbeaten 400 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 21st April 2007.
ZIMBABWE
Andy Flower is the highest run scorer for Zimbabwe across all formats. He scored 11,580 runs in 276 matches at an average of 40.63 and a strike rate of 58.68. Flower has 16 centuries and 82 half-centuries to his name.
Flower did not play an international T20 match in his career.
His career-best score across all formats came against India at Nagpur on 25th November 2000, when he scored an unbeaten 232 in a Test match.
He played his last international game on 15th March 2003.
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