Jacques Kallis to Kumar Sangakkara: Top 6 Players with Most Player of the Match Awards in Test Cricket
Introduction to the Elite Group of Cricketers
Cricket has always celebrated consistency, but some players have had another rare quality – they didn’t just perform well, they changed the outcome of matches. That’s exactly what the Player of the Match award recognizes.
Some won games with the bat, others with the ball, and a few could do both. Unsurprisingly, the names on this list are among the greatest the sport has ever produced.
1. Jacques Kallis – 23 awards
Few cricketers influenced a Test match quite like Jacques Kallis. He could rescue South Africa with the bat one day and break partnerships with the ball the next. That rare combination explains why he sits alone at the top with 23 Player of the Match awards. Kallis never demanded attention, but his performances often decided the result.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan – 19 awards
When Sri Lanka needed a breakthrough, the ball almost always went to Muttiah Muralitharan. Batters often survived one spell only to fall in the next. His ability to take wickets on any surface made him the biggest match-winner Sri Lanka has ever produced. Nineteen Player of the Match awards perfectly reflect his dominance.
3. Wasim Akram – 17 awards
Fast bowlers rarely control a Test match from start to finish. Wasim Akram did exactly that. Reverse swing, pace, and unmatched skill allowed him to produce magical spells that changed games in a single session. Pakistan always believed they had a chance as long as Akram had the ball in his hand.
4. Shane Warne – 17 awards
Shane Warne made spin bowling entertaining. He didn’t just dismiss batters; he outthought them. Every spell felt like a battle of minds, and more often than not, Warne came out on top. His 17 Player of the Match awards underline just how often he became Australia’s biggest difference-maker.
5. Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting – 16 awards
Elegant batting alone doesn’t earn 16 Player of the Match awards. Kumar Sangakkara built his reputation by delivering when Sri Lanka needed him most. Be it chasing a target or batting for long hours, he rarely let pressure affect his game. His consistency made him one of the finest left-handers the game has produced.
Few captains led from the front like Ricky Ponting. He loved the biggest occasions and often punished bowling attacks with complete authority. Aggressive by nature, Ponting rarely allowed opponents to settle once he found his rhythm. His 16 Player of the Match awards are another reminder of how often he carried Australia to victory.
