Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford top the list for highest partnership in an Ashes series

Bill Ponsford and Donald Bradman’s partnership of 451 runs for the second wicket in August 1934 is still the highest partnership in an Ashes series. Ponsford and Bradman scored 266 and 244 runs respectively as the team posted 701 on the scoreboard. Australia went on to win the match by 562 runs, which is the second biggest win ever recorded in terms of runs in cricket’s longest format.

‘The Don’ as he is famously known, has, in fact, played his part in the top three highest partnerships in the Ashes. Bradman was involved in a 405-run stand with Sid Barnes for the fifth wicket in 1946 which surpassed his previous partnership of a 388-run partnership with Bill Ponsford in the 1934 Ashes series. During these partnerships, Bradman scored two double centuries and one triple ton.

No players from either Australia or England from the 21st century have managed to record a partnership that is in the top five list. 

While Australia dominate this list, England complete the top five with representatives in the fourth and fifth spot. In August 1938, England opener Leonard Hutton and Maurice Leyland recorded a 382-run stand for the second wicket as England declared their innings at 903/7, which is the second-highest inning total in Test cricket by a team.

Former England captain David Gower and opener Graham Gooch are credited with the fifth-highest partnership in the Ashes. The two combined for 351 runs in 1985 on the back of which England scored 464. A brilliant bowling effort followed as the Three Lions won the match by an innings and 94 runs.

Meanwhile, as far as the current players are concerned, Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh’s 301-run stand in December 2017 is the highest partnership in Ashes. Overall, they are 15th on the list for record partnerships in the Ashes.

Highest partnership in Ashes

Featured photo: AFP / Patrick Riviere