Top 5 highest successful run-chases by England in test cricket

England have successfully chased down 300+ targets six times in test cricket.

The longest format of cricket, test cricket is often considered the pinnacle of the game. The battle goes on for five days, which gives plenty of options to make a comeback for the two teams involved in it.

There are multiple challenges players face in test cricket, but chasing a target in fourth innings of a match is certainly one of the toughest aspects. Statistically, the average score in the fourth innings is very low, which suggests how tough it is to score the last phase of the game.

But there have been instances when teams have chased down some massive totals in the final innings in test cricket. England, who are known to be the oldest cricket team, have also chased down massive targets in test cricket successfully. In this article, we will talk about the top five highest successful chases by England in test cricket.

Top 5 highest successful chases by England in test cricket

5. 315/4 vs Australia, Leeds, 2001

England lost the Ashes 2001 by a margin of 1-4. But, the one game which they won in the series, they registered their fourth-highest successful chase in test cricket. It was the fourth test of the series at Headingley, Leeds where Australia scored 447 and dismissed England for 309 to get a lead of 138 runs in the first innings.

Australia then scored 176/4 in the second innings before declaration to set the hosts a target of 315 runs to chase. England had a horrible start, losing both openers for 33. But then, Mark Butcher registered his highest test score of an unbeaten 173 and took England to 315/4 and won an incredible game for the team.

4. 332/7 vs Australia, Melbourne, 1928

The first time when England chased a 300+ total successfully in test cricket was in 1928 against Australia at the MCG. In the third test of Ashes 1928-29, Australia scored 397 in the first innings, with help of centuries from Alan Kippax (100) and Jack Ryder (112). But, England responded with 417, courtesy of a double hundred from Wally Hammond (200).

Australia had two more centurions in the second innings (Bill Woodfull and Sir Don Bradman) and scored 351 runs to set England a target of 332 runs. England registered 50+ partnerships for the first four wickets, and Herbert Sutcliffe scored 135. At the end, England reached 332/7 in 159.5 overs to win the game.

3. 362/9 vs Australia, Leeds, 2019

Ben Stokes’ century at Headingley, Leeds in 2019 against Australia is one of the best fourth-innings knocks by an England batter in the history of the game. In reply to Australia’s 179, England were bowled out for just 67 in the first innings.

Australia then added 246 runs and set a target of 359 for England. Joe Root (77) and Joe Denly (50) scored fifties, but England were reduced to 286/9, needing 73 runs to win. That’s where Stokes added 76 runs with No. 11 Jack Leach (1 off 17) and took England to 362/9 to record one of the best test cricket matches ever.

2. 373/5 vs India, Leeds, 2025

England registered their second-highest successful run chase in test cricket against India at Headingley, Leeds in 2025. England had a target of 371 to win, and they made 373/5 in just 82 overs to script history. Ben Duckett scored a brilliant 149 off 170 balls to lead England to the masterclass chase.

Earlier in the game, India scored 471/10 after being asked to bat first. England replied with 465 and then India scored 364 in the second innings. Indian batsmen registered five centuries in two innings of the game, but they still ended up on the losing side.

1. 378/3 vs India, Birmingham, 2022

Since Ben Stokes took over England’s test captaincy, they have been playing a different brand of cricket, which has given them a lot of success. The prime example was the rescheduled fifth test against India in 2022 in Birmingham.

England had a deficit of 132 runs in the first innings, but they then bowled out India for 245 in the second innings to set themselves a target of 378 runs. Prior to start of the chase, that seemed like a big target, but England made a mockery of the target.

Alex Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46) added 107 runs for the first wicket. It was then followed by an unbeaten 269-run stand between Joe Root (142) and Jonny Bairstow (114). England chased down the target within three sessions to script history.

(All stats updated till 24th June, 2025)

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