A high individual score in test cricket can often lead to drawn games, simply due to the time it takes to accumulate the runs. A massive score in winning cause, as opposed to a draw, tends to feel more valuable. We will now have a look at the highest individual test scores in a winning cause.
10. John Edrich (1965)
This game was the final one, in the three-match series, as a part of the New Zealand tour of England. England had already won the series, as they had won the other two games. In this game, England batted first, and posted a massive total of 546, mainly due to a 369-run partnership between Ken Barrington, and the opener, John Edrich. Edrich scored a triple hundred. England won the match by an innings and 187 runs, whitewashing New Zealand in the series. John Edrich scored 310 not out in this innings.
9. Hashim Amla (2012)
This game was a part of the South Africa tour of England. South Africa bowled first, and conceded 385. South Africa, then, during their batting, lost just two wickets. Hashim Amla scored a triple hundred, with Graeme Smith, and Jacques Kallis scoring centuries too. South Africa achieved an innings victory. Hashim Amla scored 311 not out in this innings.
8. Inzamam-ul-Haq (2002)
This game was the first one, in the three-match series, as a part of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan. Pakistan batted first. Inzamam-ul-Haq, came in, to the crease, when Pakistan was 57-2. From there, he started accumulating runs. He ended up scoring a triple hundred. Pakistan scored 643. New Zealand could not recover from it, as they got bowled out for 73 and 246 subsequently. Pakistan, hence, achieved an innings victory. Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 329 runs in this innings.
7. Michael Clarke (2012)
India had a terrible series in Australia, losing all four games. This was the second game of the series. India batted first, and got bowled out for 191. Australia batted next, and their captain Michael Clarke scored a triple hundred. Australia eventually won the match by an innings and 68 runs. Michael Clarke scored 329 not out in this innings.
6. Graham Gooch (1990)
Graham Gooch was one of the greatest batsmen in the world of that time. The striking feature of this particular match, was that, this was at the prestigious ground, the Lord’s. Gooch scored a triple hundred in the first innings, and a century in the second innings. The triple hundred is still, the highest individual score at the Lord’s. England won the game by 247 runs. Graham Gooch scored 333 runs in this innings.
5. David Warner (2019)
Pakistan toured Australia for a two-match test series. The second game was a day-night test, played with the pink ball. Australia batted first, and the opener David Warner amassed a significant quantity of runs. Warner and Marnus Labuschagne had a 361-run partnership for the second wicket. Warner got to his triple hundred. Australia declared the innings at 589-3. Australia eventually won the match by an innings and 48 runs. David Warner scored 335 not out in this innings.
4. Len Hutton (1938)
England hosted Australia in this series. This game was a timeless test, and hence, a flat track was prepared, to let the match last for a long duration. England batted first, and their opener Len Hutton, made merry with the flat track. He amassed runs, and made a massive knock. His triple hundred was the first instance of a 350+ knock in test cricket, and ,naturally, became the world record for the highest individual score. England won the match by an innings and 579 runs. Len Hutton scored 364 runs in this innings.
3. Garry Sobers (1958)
This game was the third test of the series, on the Pakistan tour of the West Indies. West Indies bowled first and let Pakistan score 328. In reply, West Indies set out to bat, and lost their first wicket at 87. Garry Sobers got in. He formed a 446-run partnership with Conrad Hunte. West Indies got to 790-3, and declared. West Indies won the match by an innings and 174 runs. Garry Sobers scored 365 not out in this innings.
2. Mahela Jayawardene (2006)
This game was a part of the South Africa tour of Sri Lanka. South Africa batted first, and scored 169. In reply, Sri Lanka was at 14-2. From there on, though, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene put up a 624-run partnership. In the end, Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 153 runs. Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 runs in this innings.
1. Matthew Hayden (2003)
Zimbabwe toured Australia, and they got thrashed by Matthew Hayden. In this innings, he broke the record of highest individual score, which belonged to broke Brian Lara. Although, Lara himself reclaimed it a few months later, this knock by Hayden remains memorable. Australia, in the end, won the match, by an innings and 175 runs. Matthew Hayden scored 380 runs in this innings.
