Most Test Runs For South Africa

South Africa is generally known for originating great fast bowlers, but they produce outstanding batters too. South Africa has a great record in test cricket with a win percentage of 38.37 and it has been possible due to the flawless and classic batting lineup of South Africa who plays pace and spin bowling equally well. Let’s have a look at the players with the most test runs for South Africa.

Jacques Kallis 

Former Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis tops the chart of most test runs for South Africa. Kallis played test cricket for South Africa for 18 long years (1995-2018), amassing 13206 runs at a dashing average of 55.25. Kallis made 45 centuries, which is 2nd most by any batter in test cricket history. The Proteas legend bagged 289 wickets too with the ball which makes him the greatest all-rounder to play test cricket.

Hashim Amla 

Classy batter Hashim Amla gets 2nd place in terms of making the highest runs in test cricket for South Africa. Amla accumulated 9282 runs at a decent average of 46,64. A great player of fast bowling, Hashim hit 28 centuries & 41 fifties in the longest format of the game. His sensational score of 311* against England in the Oval in 2012 is the highest score by a South African batter in tests. 

Graeme Smith

The most successful captain in test cricket history, Graeme Smith has scored the 3rd most test runs for South Africa. In his 12 years of test career (2002-2014), Smith notched up 9253 runs at an impressive average of 48.70. Despite batted in a tough era of James Anderson, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, & Shoaib Akhtar, Smith got 27 hundreds in his name. 

AB DE Villiers

One of the greatest all-format batters of all time, AB DE Villiers made 8765 runs in 114 matches, which is the 4th most test runs for South Africa. De Villiers had a solid defense that makes him tough to get out. The ace veteran’s tremendous batting helped him to keep an astonishing average of 50.66. DE Villiers’ highest test score wafted against Pakistan, 278* off 418 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Players	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Best	100s	50s
J Kallis	165	278	13206	55.25	224	45	58
H Amla	124	215	9282	46.64	311*	28	41
G Smith	116	203	9253	48.70	277	27	38
AB De Villiers	114	191	8765	50.66	278*	22	46
G Kirsten	101	176	7289	45.27	275	21	34
H Gibbs	90	154	6167	41.95	228	14	26
M Boucher	146	204	5498	30.54	125	05	35
D Elgar	84	149	5146	37.28	199	13	23
DJ Cullican	70	115	4554	44.21	275*	14	20