Test cricket is known as the toughest and longest format of the game. Here, teams need more than just talent—they need patience, discipline, and a solid strategy. While the world is now shifting to fast-paced T20s and ODIs, Test matches continue to show the real strength of a team, especially in batting.
In the long journey of Test history, there have been some unforgettable innings where teams posted massive totals. These performances were not just about runs—they were about breaking limits and showing mental toughness. Let’s take a fresh look at the top 10 highest innings totals in Test cricket.
1. Sri Lanka – 952/6 Declared vs India (1997, Colombo)
This is still the highest score by any team in Test cricket. Sri Lanka batted for 271 overs and declared at 952/6. Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 340 runs, while Roshan Mahanama scored 225. It was a marathon partnership that crushed India’s bowling attack. Even after so many years, no team has come close to this massive score.
2. England – 903/7 Declared vs Australia (1938, The Oval)
England dominated this Ashes Test in style. Len Hutton played a remarkable innings of 364 runs. England won the match by an innings and 579 runs—one of the biggest margins in cricket history. This match proved England’s batting class in the early days of Test cricket.
3. England – 849 vs West Indies (1930, Kingston)
In the West Indies, England posted a massive 849 in the first innings. Andy Sandham made a triple century (325), and the team batted for 335 overs. Though the match ended in a draw, this total became part of cricket history.
4. England – 823/7 vs Pakistan (2024, Multan)
In a more recent Test, England scored 823 runs in just 150 overs against Pakistan in Multan using their aggressive ‘Bazball’ style. Ben Duckett and Harry Brook led the charge with rapid centuries. It became one of the fastest 800+ totals in Test history and showed the power of modern-day Test batting.
5. West Indies – 790/3 vs Pakistan (1958, Kingston)
West Indies put up a huge 790/3, led by Garfield Sobers’ unbeaten 365—then the highest individual score in Test cricket. The innings showed total dominance and gave West Indies a strong draw against Pakistan.
6. Pakistan – 765/6 Declared vs Sri Lanka (2009, Karachi)
Pakistan’s best Test innings came with a score of 765/6. Younis Khan’s brilliant 313 helped the team post this total. Despite the big score, the match ended in a draw. This still remains Pakistan’s highest Test total.
7. Sri Lanka – 760/7 Declared vs India (2009, Ahmedabad)
Sri Lanka once again made it to the list with a total of 760/7. Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan were the top performers. This innings again ended in a draw, but showed how consistent Sri Lanka was during this era in big run-making.
8. India – 759/7 Declared vs England (2016, Chennai)
India’s highest score came during the 2016 home series against England. Karun Nair shocked everyone with a triple century (303*), and Ravichandran Ashwin also played a key role with both bat and ball. India won the match by an innings and 75 runs.
9. Australia – 758/8 Declared vs West Indies (1955, Kingston)
Australia’s powerful batting display in this match gave them 758 runs. With great contributions from Arthur Morris and Neil Harvey, they beat the West Indies and added another big score to cricket’s record books.
10. Sri Lanka – 756/5 Declared vs South Africa (2006, Colombo SSC)
This Sri Lankan innings stood out not just for the score but also for the record-breaking partnership of 624 runs between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. The team batted aggressively, with a run rate of over 4 per over, which is very rare in Test cricket.
How These Records Still Hold Power Today
In modern cricket, fast-paced matches are becoming the norm. But these innings show that Test cricket still has room for high-scoring brilliance. Teams today play with more aggression and try to win matches in three to four days. Even so, none of them have managed to cross Sri Lanka’s record total of 952.
While England’s Bazball approach has come close with 823, the patience and control Sri Lanka showed in 1997 still seems hard to match. This shows that even in today’s attacking era, some old records still stand strong.
