Test cricket is a format of high endurance, and it involves various occasions of batsmen accumulating runs and posting huge scores. At times, it results in batsmen, posting substantial scores. We will now have a look at the highest individual scores in test cricket.
1. Brian Lara (2004)
Brian Lara had a knack for scoring massive hundreds. This was perhaps the most significant of them all. West Indies hosted England yet again, in the same ground where nearly ten years back Lara broke Sobers’ record. West Indies batted first, and Lara was scoring in a consistent manner that, the entire innings revolved around him. He was piling up runs heavily. Just around six months after Hayden broke his record, he immediately reclaimed it by scoring the first ever quadruple century. This score is still the highest individual test score. Brian Lara scored 400 not out in this innings.
2. Matthew Hayden (2003)
Matthew Hayden was the opener for a very dominant Australian side. When Zimbabwe toured Australia, they were subject to an absolute thrashing by Hayden, who broke Brian Lara’s highest score record. Australia eventually got to an innings victory. Matthew Hayden scored 380 runs in this innings.
3. Brian Lara (1994)
Brian Lara was one of the most prolific batsmen of his time. He was known to bat with style. He was a formidable batsman, especially in home conditions. When England toured West Indies, they were set to play a five-match test series. West Indies entered the final match, leading 3-1 in the series. In this final match, West Indies batted first. After they went 12-2, Brian Lara had steady partnerships regularly, and built towards a high score. He eventually broke Garry Sobers’ record for the highest individual score. Brian Lara scored 375 runs in this innings.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (2006)
Sri Lanka hosted South Africa in this test. Sri Lanka bowled first, and conceded 169. In response, Sri Lanka was at 14-2. However, from there, both Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored a lot of runs, and notched up a partnership of 624 runs. Eventually, Sri Lanka attained an innings victory. Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 runs in this innings.
5. Garry Sobers (1958)
This is the same test series in which Hanif Mohammad scored 337. This game was the third test of the series. West Indies bowled first and conceded 328. In response, West Indies lost their first wicket at 87, when Garry Sobers walked in. He formed a partnership worth 446 runs, with Conrad Hunte. West Indies declared at 790-3, and they attained an innings victory. Garry Sobers scored 365 not out in this innings.
6. Leonard Hutton (1938)
England hosted Australia in this test. It was designed to be a timeless test, and hence, a pitch was prepared in order to last for a long while. England batted first, and the opener Leonard Hutton took full advantage of it. He became the first player to score above 350. Leonard Hutton scored 364 runs in this innings.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya (1997)
The pitch produced for this match was one of the flattest pitches, ever made in test cricket. India batted first, scored 537-8, and declared. What followed was a batting marathon by the Sri Lankan batsmen. Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama had a 576-run partnership for the second wicket. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 runs in this innings.
8. Hanif Mohammad (1958)
Pakistan toured West Indies for this test series. In the first test, West Indies batted first. At the end of the first innings, West Indies had a massive lead of 473 runs. They enforced the follow-on, on Pakistan. In this innings, Pakistani opener Hanif Mohammad, made a terrific fightback knock. He scored a magnificent triple hundred, which pushed Pakistan’s score to 657. The match ended up as a draw. Hanif Mohammad scored 337 runs in this innings.
9. Wally Hammond (1933)
Wally Hammond was an English batsman, who was considered a rival to the Australian batsman. When England toured New Zealand, he found an ideal opportunity to cross Bradman’s highest test score. After England bowled New Zealand out for just 158, England batted strongly for a long while. By the time Hammond crossed Bradman’s tally, England had reached 548, and declared. Hammond set the world record for the highest individual score. Wally Hammond scored 336 not out in this innings.
10. David Warner (2019)
Australia hosted Pakistan for a two-match test series. Australia had won the first one, and the second one was a day-night test, with the pink ball. Australia batted first, and David Warner opened the batting. After an early wicket fell, he and Marnus Labuschagne had a 361-run partnership, with both of them just piling up runs. Warner was constantly accumulating runs, until Australia reached 589-3 and declared. Australia eventually attained an innings victory. David Warner scored 335 not out in this innings.
