Top 5: Highest Individual Scores in Test Cricket

Test cricket tests your patience, your skills, and your ability to bat on tough pitches.

In this article, we will talk about the top 5 highest individual scores in Test cricket.

5. Garry Sobers | 365* vs Pakistan, 1958

Former West Indies all-rounder Garry Sobers converted his maiden ton to a triple hundred, scoring 365* runs in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1958. He was just 21 years and 213 days old at that time.

Pakistan, batting first, managed to score 328 runs in 102 overs with Imtiaz Ahmed’s ton. In response, the West Indies scored a mammoth total of 790/3 runs in 208.1 overs.

Sobers, batting at 3, stitched a partnership of 446 runs with Conrad Hunte, who scored 260 runs coming in as an opener. The West Indies won the match by an innings and 174 runs.

4. Mahela Jayawardene | 374 vs South Africa, 2006

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 runs in 572 balls in a Test innings against South Africa in 2006.

South Africa, batting first, were bundled out for 169 runs, with Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan picking up 4 wickets each.

Sri Lanka lost the first 2 wickets for just 14 runs, but it was followed by a partnership of 624 runs between Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Sanga was dismissed for 287 runs, but the skipper continued to score well.

The right-hander scored plenty of runs against Nicky Boje, Dale Steyn, and Andre Nel before getting dismissed by him. Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 153 runs.

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3. Brian Lara | 375 vs England, 1994

Brian Lara, who holds the record for scoring the most runs for the West Indies in Test cricket, scored 375 runs against England in 1994.

The West Indies batted first and posted a total of 593/5 in 180.2 overs, declaring the innings. No other batter than Lara crossed the hundred-run mark in the West Indies’s innings.

The left-hander’s innings included 45 boundaries, which he smashed against the likes of Andy Caddick and Chris Lewis. Once Lara was out, the Windies declared the innings, but the match ended in a draw.

2. Matthew Hayden | 380 vs Zimbabwe, 2003

Former Australian opener, Matthew Hayden, smashed 380 runs in 437 balls against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. His innings consisted of 38 fours and 11 sixes.

Australia, batting first, scored 735/6 runs in 146.3 overs. They declared the innings once Hayden was dismissed.

The left-hander started his innings aggressively against Heath Streak and went on smashing sixes once left-arm spinner Ray Price was introduced to the attack.

Other than Hayden, Adam Gilchrist scored 113* runs from 94 balls. Australia won the match by an innings and 153 runs.

1. Brian Lara | 400* vs England, 2004

Former West Indies captain Brain Lara holds the record for scoring the highest individual score in Tests. And he is also the only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to score 400 runs in an innings.

He achieved this feat in 2004 against England in Antigua. The West Indies, batting first, posted a total of 751/5 runs in 202 overs.

Lara played 582 balls in his innings and hit 43 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. He scored most of the runs against Gareth Batty and Simon Jones. The match ended in a draw.