Highest successful Test run chase in England: Don Bradman’s Australia hold the all-time record

The Australian cricket team from 1948 holds the record for the highest successful Test run chase in England.

The side, led by Don Bradman, chased down a target of 404 in the fourth Test against England at Leeds to take possession of the record.

The top-order of England, led by Leonard Hutton, registered half-centuries to guide the hosts to a total of 365/8d in the third innings and set Australia a mammoth target to chase.

Australia, in reply, rode on centuries of opener Arthur Morris (182) and captain Bradman (173 not out) to reach 404/3 and pull off a splendid seven-wicket victory. The result meant the Aussies took a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

As a matter of fact, Don Bradman’s knock in the fixture would be the 29th and final hundred of his celebrated career in red-ball cricket.

England pulled off their highest-ever run Test chase in history when they chased 378 against India at Edgbaston in 2022. The hosts rode on unbeaten hundreds from former captain Joe Root (142 off 173 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (114 off 145 balls) to chase down the target with seven wickets in hand.

In doing so, England bettered their previous record of chasing ​​359 against Australia in 2019.

An unbeaten 135 from Ben Stokes propelled the English side to score 362/9 in their second innings and thus register a narrow one-wicket victory.

In 1987, Clive Lloyd’s West Indies cricket team chased down 342 to register their highest successful Test run chase in England.

Carrying forward a 41-run lead from the first innings, England posted 300/9d in their second innings thanks to a century from Allan Lamb (110).

However, an unbeaten double-century (214) from Gordon Greenidge and Larry Gomes’ 140-ball 92 helped the Windies race to 344/1 in 66.1 overs. This result bettered their previous best record of 253 set in 1963.

The West Indies team that toured England in 2017 secured the fifth-highest successful Test run chase in England.

Shai Hope, who hit 147 in the first innings of the second Test at Leeds, rallied to score an unbeaten 118 in the second innings to spearhead a 322-run chase in 92 overs. His efforts helped West Indies level the three-match series 1-1 at the time.

Highest successful Test run chase in England

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / J.R. LOKE