List of England cricketers to play 100 test matches

A total of 17 England cricketers have played 100 or more matches in test cricket.

Cricket’s history began in the United Kingdom, it is believed that the first ever cricket match was played in the 17th Century. England were also part of the first-ever test played at MCG in 1877. Two arch-rivals England and Australia took on each other in March 1877. Since then in 147 years, England have awarded the international test cap to 712 players.

Only 15 of them have represented England in more than 100 test matches in their career. This list consists of many big names in England cricket with an immense contribution in making them a superpower in test cricket. Playing 100 test matches is a tough job for any player in the world. Let’s have a look at the list of England cricketers to play 100 or more test matches.

17. Jonny Bairstow – 100 tests:

Jonny Bairstow’s cricketing journey reached a significant milestone as he donned the England whites for his 100th test match. The wicket-keeper batter became the 17th Englishman to achieve this feat, joining a prestigious club of national heroes. While his statistical record might not be the most glittering, Bairstow’s impact on the English team goes beyond mere numbers. 

Having amassed over 5,500 runs at an average of slightly above 35, his ability to score quickly and change the complexion of a match is undeniable. The veteran player has notched up 12 centuries and 26 fifties.

Bairstow is known for his aggressive batting style, his ability to change the momentum of a match single-handedly, and his infectious energy that lifts the entire team’s spirit.

16. Ben Stokes – 100 tests:

On 15th February, 2024, Ben Stokes became 16th England cricketer to play 100 test matches. Ben Stokes made his test debut aganst Australia at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide in December, 2013. One of the greatest all-rounders ever produced by England, Stokes has so far scored 6251 runs including 13 hundreds. He also has 197 wickets to his name in the longest format of the game.

(Stats updated till his 99th match)

15. Graham Thorpe – 100 tests:

England’s former Middle-order batter Graham Thorpe represented England for 12 years in his career. Graham Thorpe played 100 test matches for England and scored 6744 runs in 179 innings. Graham Thorpe made his test debut against arch-rivals Australia in an Ashes test at Nottingham in 1992. His 100th test came against Bangladesh in 2005 at Chester-Le-Street. He couldn’t add more caps to his test cricket career.

14. Andrew Strauss – 100 tests:

Former England skipper Andrew Strauss retired after playing his 100th test match at the Lord’s in 2012. The former England opener played 100 test matches for England and scored 7037 runs in 178 innings. Strauss is also one of the finest England captains in test cricket. He led the England side to pole position in the ICC test team rankings. Strauss made his debut against New Zealand at the Lord’s in 2004.

13. Ian Botham – 102 tests:

Ian Botham is one of the most loved and admired England cricketers in the history. Sir Ian Botham is considered as one of the greats to grace the game of cricket. Ian Botham also represented England in more than 100 test matches in his career. He played 102 test matches for England after making his debut against Australia in 1977. His 100th test came against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in 1992. The legendary all-rounder scored 5200 runs and picked 383 wickets for England in tests.

12. Kevin Pietersen – 104 tests:

South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen made his test debut for England during the iconic 2005 Ashes series against Australia at Lord’s. Kevin Pietersen made an early impact in his career and went on to play 104 test matches. He played his 100th test against Australia at Gabba in Brisbane in Ashes 2013-14. During his career from 2005 to 2014, Pietersen scored 8181 runs including 23 centuries.

11. Geoff Boycott – 108 tests:

Legendary England batter Geoff Boycott is renowned as one of the finest cricket pundits. Former England opener Geoff Boycott played 108 test matches and scored 8114 runs at an average of 47.72. Geoff Boycott played his 100th test match against Australia at the Lord’s in 1981. He made his debut against the same opposition in Nottingham in 1964, while his last test came against India in 1982.

10. Colin Cowdrey – 114 tests:

Former England skipper Colin Cowdrey was born in India’s small Hill-town of Ooty in 1932. Colin Cowdrey went on to play 114 test matches for England in his 21-year-long career. His 100th test came against Australia in the Ashes 1968 at Edgbaston. Colin Cowdrey scored 7624 runs in his career from 1954 to 1975 in 188 test innings at an average of 44.06, with 22 centuries.

9. Mike Atherton – 115 tests:

Mike Atherton was England’s biggest match-winner in test cricket in the 90s era. Mike Atherton was a crucial player in English middle-order batting. He went on to represent England 115 times in test cricket and scored 7728 runs with 16 centuries in 212 innings. Mike Atherton played his 100th test against West Indies at the Old Trafford in 2000. Mike Atherton made his test debut against Australia in Nottingham during Ashes 1989.

8. David Gower – 117 tests:

Former England left-hand batter David Gower made his test debut against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1978. David Gower then went on to play a total of 117 test matches for England in his career span of 14 years from 1978 to 1992. England’s one of the finest, David Gower scored 8231 runs with 18 test centuries in 204 innings. Gower’s 100th test match came against West Indies at Headingley in 1988.

7. Graham Gooch – 118 tests:

The term ‘Daddy Hundred’ in cricket came after Graham Gooch’s consistent ability to score big hundreds in test cricket. Graham Gooch played 118 test matches for his national side and went on to score 8900 runs. Gooch smashed 20 test hundreds including one triple century and one double century. His 100th test was against India at the Eden Gardens in 1993. He played for England from 1975 to 1995.

6. Ian Bell – 118 tests:

Former England middle-order batter Ian Bell is also on the list of players with 100 or more test matches for England. Ian Bell was renowned for his class batting in the lower middle order. Bell scored 7727 test runs in his career of 118 matches. Ian Bell made his test debut against West Indies at The Oval in 2004, his 100th test was against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2014. Bell’s last test game came against Pakistan at Sharjah in November 2015.

5. Alec Stewart – 133 tests:

Legendary England wicket-keeper Alec Stewart played 133 test matches and retired with reputation as one of the best wicket-keeper batters in the world. Stewart scored 8463 runs in his test cricket career, coincidentally these numbers make Alec Stewart’s birth-date of 8 April 1963. Stewart made his test debut against West Indies at Kingston in 1990 and his 100th test came against West Indies at Old Trafford in 2000. He played his last test against South Africa in 2003.

4. Joe Root – 137 tests:

Not many England batters have dominated the spin conditions like Joe Root did in 12 years as England’s top-order batter. Joe Root is also England’s only the second batter after Alastair Cook to score more than 10,000 test runs. Root has so far played 137 test matches and is still going strong. Root’s 100th test came against India at Chepauk in Chennai. He scored a double century in his 100th test.

3. Alastair Cook – 161 tests:

Alastair Cook is widely credited for making England a dominant team in test cricket. Alastair Cook is also the leading run-scorer for England in test cricket and he retired from international cricket after scoring 12,472 runs in 161 test matches. Cook’s 100th test was against arch-rivals Australia at the iconic MCG in Ashes 2017. Cook made his debut against India in Nagpur in 2006. He also played his last test against India. He notched up centuries in both of his debut and last tests against India.

2. Stuart Broad – 167 tests

Right-arm pacer Stuart Broad retired from international cricket during the Ashes 2023 against Australia. Broad put an end to his 167 test-long career with 604 test wickets. During his test career from 2007 to 2023, Broad picked 604 wickets and scored 3664 runs. Broad made his test debut against Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo in 2007, while his 100th test came against India at SCA, Rajkot in 2017.

1. James Anderson – 184 tests:

Veteran James Anderson is setting a new benchmark of match fitness for fast bowlers around the world. James Anderson made his test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003. Even after a 21-year long career, he doesn’t look tired. Anderson has so far played the most number of test matches for England in test cricket. Anderson played 184 test matches for England. In his career from 2003 to 2024*, Anderson has so far picked up 695 wickets – third most by any bowler in this format of the game.

(All numbers and stats updated till 7th March, 2024)

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