Test cricket is the purest form of cricket, they say. Something that hasn't changed in all these years. It is the format that tests, in the real sense of the word, one's grit, patience and level of consistency.

Many have waned away trying to forge a mighty reputation in this format that's largely considered- and rightly so- as the sport's most complex and sternest template.

Only a few, however, have produced a gaggle of runs and along with it, immense reputation with which they are loved and admired the world over. Let us find out Test cricket's top champions by virtue of runs:

Sachin Tendulkar

15921 runs, 200 Test matches, and one magnanimous personality! Need one say anything anymore?

There are great batsmen. There are extraordinary batsmen. But none of them have been anointed the status of 'God' for there can only be one Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

A Colossus of batting and an artist defined by virtues like sheer commitment, class and vivaciousness, Tendulkar broke records, earned millions of fans and has, ultimately become a cult figure in the game with an infallible reputation as the 'best ever' to have waked the pitch.

The reverence for Tendulkar earned further credibility when the legendary Sir Don Bradman himself appreciated India's humble son, one meant to do what he eventually did: excel in the game.

Ricky Ponting

An aggressive, brave and charismatic batter, Ponting was perhaps as good a player with the bat as he was a leader making big plans to upset Australia's opponents.

Revered by batters and reviled by the opponents of "Straya", there was that gift of timing and playing audacious strokes such as a pull shot off the front foot that made Ponting occupy a league of his own.

He scored 13,378 Test runs and stands second in the list of all time test run scorers.

Jacques Kallis

If there was ever something like a list comprising the game's most complete or near-perfect cricketers, then be rest assured that Jack Kallis's name would feature very highly in that enlistment.

Long before cricket coined the term 'King' to nickname Kohli, the phrase was, rather still is used to describe the burly South African.

There was an element of class and absolute resoluteness about Jack Kallis, who with 13,289 runs finished his career a run more than what Dravid managed.

But with no fewer than 292 wickets, Kallis capped off an iconic, 18-year-long career as the game's greatest all-rounder alongside Sir Sobers.

Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed the 'Wall', for the better part of his career, Dravid saved, batted, withstood immense pressure and ultimately, bailed out his team in the face of adversity and he did that with a sense of selflessness.

Combining the love for batting for long hours to his hallmark trait- patience- Dravid achieved Test match greatness, scoring 13,288 runs with 36 Test tons, including a dogged century at Lord's, something missing on the elaborate resumes of even greats like Sachin and Lara. Dravid's top score of 270 is more than the highest individual test score achieved by the legends like Gavaskar, Sachin and Sourav.

Joe Root

The latest entrant to this club, Joe Root, formerly captain of the English side, is one of the nicest men to have ever walked the cricket field or wielded the bat in hand.

With over 13,000 runs, Joe Root, a figure of composure and excessive hunger for runs, is a role model figure in 21st century cricket not just on account of his success, but for the grace and integrity with which he conducts himself in the middle.

He already has 36 centuries in the format to his name, two more than the iconic Brian Lara and is touted as the only man of the lot of active cricketers who could near or surpass the great Tendulkar's run tally.