Top 5 highest successful run chases by England in test cricket

West Indies hold the record for the highest-ever successful run chase in test cricket.

England are known as the inventor of the game of cricket. They introduced this sport to the world, which has now become the most popular sport in Asia.

England have a rich history in test cricket, and they, along with Australia, were part of the first official test match back in 1877 at the MCG. The English team have always been blessed with a strong batting unit which has performed well in home conditions but have often struggled away from home.

Over the years, England have chased some big totals in test cricket. Successful fourth innings run chases often go down in the folklore as batting in the last innings of a test match is the toughest. In this article, we will talk about the top five highest successful chases by England in test cricket.

List of the top five highest successful run chases by England in test cricket:

5. 307/6 vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 1997

England’s fifth-highest successful run chase was recorded in Christchurch against New Zealand in February 1997. New Zealand scored 346 runs and dismissed England for 228 to take a first-inning lead of 118 runs.

New Zealand were all out for 186 in their second innings, setting England a target of 305 runs. In the chase, captain Mike Atherton took charge and slammed a brilliant 118 at the top.

They were 231/6 at one point when John Crawley (40*) and Dominic Cork (39*) added unbeaten 76 runs for the seventh wicket to take England home. 

4. 315/4 vs Australia, Leeds, 2001

England’s fourth-highest chase in test cricket was against Australia at Leeds in 2001. After the first innings of both teams, Australia had a lead of 138 runs as they dismissed England for 309 after scoring 447.

Australia declared their second innings at 176/4 and set England a target of 315 runs. In response, England were boosted with a counterattacking innings by Mark Butcher.

He scored his highest test score of 173* off 227 balls and took England to 315/5 to register a memorable victory against the bowling unit that had Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie.

3. 332/7 vs Australia, Melbourne, 1928

The first time that England chased down a 300+ total was in 1928 against Australia at the MCG. Australia scored 397 runs while England responded well with 417 and took a 20-run first-inning lead.

Then, Australia scored 351 runs in their second innings and set a target of 332. England’s chase began with a 101-run opening stand. They had three 50-plus stands after that. Opener Herbert Sutcliffe slammed 135 runs, and England scored 332/7 in 159.5 overs to win the test.

2. 362/9 vs Australia, Leeds, 2019

England’s second-highest successful run chase in test cricket came in 2019 at Leeds against Australia. It was one of the closest test matches and one of the most memorable as well.

England had a horrible collapse in the first innings and they got all out for 67 runs in reply to Australia’s 179. Australia scored 246 runs in the second innings and set England a target of 359.

England had never chased a 350+ target before this game and needed something special this time, which Ben Stokes provided. The southpaw slammed one of the best fourth-inning centuries in history.

At one point, England were 286/9 with 73 more runs to win. Stokes added those runs with No. 11 Jack Leach (1* off 17) and scored 135 not out to take England to one of the most incredible wins of all time.

1. 378/3 vs India, Birmingham, 2022

The world witnessed the prime example of England’s Bazball methods in the fifth test against India in Birmingham in the 2021-22 series. England conceded a first-inning lead of 132 runs after getting all out for 284 in response to India’s 416.

In the second innings, India were bowled out for 245 and England got a target of 378. Chasing the target, the English openers set the tone with a 107-run stand in 21.4 overs. Alex Lees made 56, and Zak Crawley scored 46.

However, from 107/0, England were reduced to 109/3. But after that, Jonny Bairstow (114*) and Joe Root (142) added an unbeaten partnership of 269 runs for the fourth wicket to take the side to 378/3, and England registered their highest successful run chase in test cricket.

(All stats updated till 8th October, 2024.)

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