Top 10 highest team totals in test cricket

Only four times a team has scored more than 800 runs in test cricket.

In the 147 years of history of test cricket, teams have regularly piled over 500 runs. Many of them have went on to score over 600 runs as well, while a few of them crossed the margin of 700 runs.

Only four times, though, a team has passed the 800-run barrier in test cricket. And you’d be shocked to know that twice, a team even went beyond the 900-run mark.

This is the result of great batsmen being part of these test matches and getting the opportunity in excellent batting conditions. To make hay when the sun shines, as they say, it what batsmen do when they get the chance on a flat track and while being in good form.

In this article, we will look at the top 10 highest team totals in test cricket.

Top 10 highest team totals in test cricket:

10. Sri Lanka – 756/5d vs South Africa, 2006

In the first test in Colombo against South Africa in 2006, Sri Lanka scored 756 runs while losing five wickets in their first innings in reply to South Africa’s 169.

Mahela Jayawardene recorded the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman in test cricket – 374. Jayawardene got support from Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 287 runs. South Africa were bowled out for 434 in their second innings and lost by an innings and 153 runs.

Jayawardene and Sangakkara also registered the highest ever test partnership for any wicket – 624 runs in this game.

9. Australia – 758/8d vs West Indies, 1955

In the fifth test in Kingston during Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1955, the hosts scored 357 in their first innings. In reply, the visitors posted a huge total of 758 courtesy of five batsmen scoring centuries, and one among them, Neil Harvey, converting his ton into a double ton.

West Indies were knocked over for 319 in their second innings and lost the game by an innings and 82 runs.

8. India – 759/7d vs England, 2016

In the India vs England Chennai test in 2016, Karun Nair became the second India to hit a triple century in test cricket. KL Rahul scored 199 as well. India piled up 759 in reply to England’s first innings total of 477.

England were bowled out for 207 in the second innings and conceded a defeat by an innings and 75 runs.

7. Sri Lanka – 760/7d vs India, 2009

In the Ahmedabad test of the 2009 series between India and Sri Lanka, India started well by scoring 426 runs in their first innings.

But, their bowlers then conceded 760 runs as Mahela Jayawardene struck 275 while T Dilshan and Prasanna Jayawardene hit centuries as well. The match ended in a draw.

6. Pakistan – 765/6d vs Sri Lanka, 2009

Pakistan and Sri Lanka were involved in a high-scoring draw in Karachi in 2009. First, the visitors amassed 644/7d through double tons from Jayawardene and Thilan Samarweera.

The hosts then went even further to post 765/6d as Younis Khan plundered a triple century and Kamran Akmal scored 158. The game petered into a boring draw.

5. West Indies – 790/3d vs Pakistan, 1958

In Kingston in 1958, West Indies buried Pakistan with a huge score of 790/3d. Garry Sobers aggregated 365* and Conrad Hunte amassed 260. This is also West Indies’ highest team total in test cricket.

Pakistan managed 328 and 288 and succumbed to an innings defeat.

4. England – 823/7d vs Pakistan, 2024

The most-recent score of over 800 runs in test cricket came in Multan. It was made by England, who posted 823, courtesy of a triple century from Harry Brook and 262 from Joe Root.

This was in response to Pakistan’s first innings total of 556.

3. England – 849 vs West Indies, 1930

In 1930 in Kingston, England recorded the first-ever score of over 800 runs against West Indies. Batting first, England scored 849 as Andy Sandham made 325 while Les Ames scored 149.

The match ended in a draw as West Indies were at 408/5 in their second innings chasing a mammoth target of 836 runs.

2. England – 903/7d vs Australia, 1938

The first score of more than 900 runs in test cricket was made by England in the 1938 Ashes at The Oval. England scored 903 runs, which is now the second-highest test score, while batting first as Leonard Hutton scored 364 and two others notched up centuries.

Australia were bowled out for 201 and 123 and lost the game by a huge margin of an innings and 579 runs.

1. Sri Lanka – 952/6d vs India, 1997

Sri Lanka hold the record of the highest team total in test cricket. They scored 952/6d against India in 1997 in Colombo.

Batting first, India made 537/8d. In reply, Sri Lanka just didn’t stop batting and amassed 952/6, with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring 340, Roshan Mahanama scoring 225, and Aravinda de Silva making 126.

There was no third innings in this match as it ended in a draw.

(All stats updated till 10th October, 2024)

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