Stats: Top 10 players with most number of matches in international cricket

Sachin Tendulkar

Here is a list of players who have played the most number of matches in international cricket. Having played 664 matches, former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is at the top. Following him is the 37-year-old Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawerdene, who has a realistic chance of breaking the record. Having committed himself to play till the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Jaywardene needs to play only 49 more matches to surpass the Indian batting legend.

Of the remaining 8, only Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman, remains active, at the 5th spot. Safe to say, with a difference of more than 100 matches, he isn’t posing any threat to break into the top 2.

Player	Span	Matches
Sachin Tendulkar (India)	1989-2013	664
Mahela Jayawardene (Asia/SL)	1997-2014	616
Sanath Jayasuriya (Asia/SL)	1989-2011	586
Ricky Ponting (Aus/ICC)	1995-2012	560
Kumara Sangakkara (Asia/ICC/SL)	2000-2014	553
Jacques Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA)	1995-2013	516
Rahul Dravid (Asia/ICC/India)	1996-2012	509
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/ICC/Pak)	1991-2007	499
Muttiah Muralitharan (Asia/ICC/SL)	1992-2011	495
Steve Waugh (Aus)	1985-2004	493

Note: Stats updated till June 20, 2014