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In test cricket there are no time or over restrictions on how long a team can bat. That means we have seen some very big scores and these are the highest of all.
What is the Highest Score in Test Cricket by a Team?
The highest score in the history of test match cricket is 952/7. This record breaking team total was made by Sri Lanka against India in Colombo in August 1997.
India had already made 537/8 in their first innings and the match, unsurprisingly, ended in a draw.
Top 10 Highest Team Scores in Test Matches
Sri Lanka 952/6d vs India (1997)
As we’ve already seen, Sri Lanka currently hold the record with their total of 952/6 which was made against India in 1997.
The knock was notable for some high individual scores. Sanath Jayasuriya made 340 while Roshan Mahanama contributed 225.
England 903/7d vs Australia (1938)
Before Sri Lanka’s effort, England’s 903/7 against Australia in 1938 was a record that stood for over 50 years. Len Hutton also set an individual world record with his 364 and England won comfortably by an test innings and 579 runs.
England 849 vs West Indies (1930)
England’s 849 against West Indies in Jamaica is the highest score by a test team playing away from home. Andrew Sandham made 325 but the match was drawn after the West Indies batted out the final day.
West Indies 790/3d vs Pakistan (1958)
Garry Sobers was the star in this huge West Indian knock of 790/3 against Pakistan in 1958. Also played in Jamaica, this was the game where Sobers broke Hutton’s individual world record with an unbeaten knock of 365.
Pakistan 765/6d vs Sri Lanka (2009)
Pakistan’s highest team total to date is the 765/6 made against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2009. Younis Khan made 313 but this was another high scoring game which finished in a draw.
Sri Lanka 760/7d vs India (2009)
Sri Lanka make the list again with a colossal total of 760/7 which was compiled against India in Ahmedabad in 2009. Mahela Jaywardene top scored with 275 but the Sri Lankans couldn’t force a victory and the game was drawn.
India 759/7d vs England (2016)
This tour of India was a miserable one for England and this game in Chennai was the low point. Some brilliant Indian batting saw the home side put on 759/7. Karun Nair was the hero with 303 as India won by an innings and 75 runs.
Australia 758/8d vs West Indies (1955)
This is Australia’s highest total in the test history. No fewer than five players passed the three figure mark in this game in Jamaica as the Aussies won by an innings and 82 runs.
Sri Lanka 756/5d vs South Africa (2006)
That prolific Sri Lankan side make it onto this list once again with a total of 756/5 which was made against South Africa at Colombo in 2006. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara compiled an incredible third wicket stand of 624 as the Sri Lankans won by an innings and 153 runs.
West Indies 751/5d vs England (2004)
This is the game where Brian Lara set a new world record for the highest individual score. The brilliant left hander made an incredible 400 as his team reached 751/5 against England in Antigua in 2004.
The West Indies immediately declared but they couldn’t force a win. The tourists reached 422/5 in their second innings as the match finished in a tame draw.
What is the Highest Second Innings Score in a Test by a Team?
The highest test score by a team playing their second test innings is 680/8 declared. This was made by New Zealand against India at Wellington in 2014.
The Kiwis made just 192 in their first innings but they responded as Brendon McCullum became the first player from New Zealand to score a triple century. McCullum was eventually dismissed for 302 and the game petered out into a draw.
Conclusion
If you like your cricket stats as much as I do, there will be some interesting things to note in this round up. High team totals will obviously need big contributions from individual players and there are so many triple centuries on this list.
Four of the individual scores in question were world test cricket records at the time they were made. We also have the current milestone of 400 made by Brian Lara for the West Indies against England in 2004.
That particular record by Lara may never be broken but what about these team totals? The most recent of them took place in 2016. The pace of test cricket means that there is a chance for new entries but batting for so long takes time out of the game.
Teams like to be positive and to force results so it may be some time before anyone sneaks into the top ten.
