Highest runs in Test cricket by a team: Sri Lanka, England stand tall

Test cricket is always considered the best and most pure cricketing format compared to ODIs and T20s. It involves a battle that extends over five days and tests the players physically and mentally.

The players should be in their best shape throughout the match and any slip in any of the sessions will have a huge impact on the result of the match. 

Test cricket is often considered a battle of attrition with the team that lasts the rigours of the five days going home with the better result.

In such situations, it becomes crucial for teams to remain in the zone for longer periods and for players to remain patient to wear out the opposition. Teams often chalk up mammoth totals to put pressure on the other side. 

The fielding side as a result will exhibit the fatigue of long hours on the field while they come out to bat, giving an advantage to the opposition. 

Teams with huge totals often get an upper hand in Test matches as they tend to push the other side to a corner and enforce a result.

Here, we go through the highest totals made by teams in the history of Test cricket.

Highest runs in Test cricket by a team

Sri Lanka | 952/6d

Sri Lanka owns the record for the highest runs scored by a team in a single innings of a Test match with their mammoth 952/6d against neighbours India in Colombo. While Batting first, India had amassed 537/8 in the first innings of the first Test of a two-match series courtesy of centuries from Sachin Tendulkar, Navjot Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin.

What followed was a record-breaking batting display from Sri Lanka as they batted for close to three days to put on a gargantuan total of 952/6 in 271 overs. Opener Sanath Jayasuriya headlined the Lankan innings with a triple hundred (340) that included 36 fours and two sixes.

Jayasuriya was well-supported by Roshan Mahanama who scored 225 and the duo added 576 runs for the second wicket - the second-highest in Test cricket for any wicket. Aravinda de Silva made 126 while Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Mahela Jayawardene also chipped in with half-centuries. The match ended in a draw.

England | 903/7d

England’s 903/7d against Australia at The Oval in 1938 is second on the list of highest runs by a team in a single innings of a Test. After winning the toss, England batted Australia out of the contest in the fourth and final Test of Australia’s tour as they became the first team in international cricket to cross the 900-run mark.

England’s Leonard Hutton top-scored in the contest with a knock of 364 - the highest individual score in Test cricket then, hitting 35 fours along the way. Maurice Leyland and Joe Hardstaff also scored big hundreds to aid England’s cause.

In return, Australia stumbled as the scoreboard pressure got to them and they were bowled out for 201 and 123 in both innings. England won the Test match by a handsome margin of an innings and 579 runs to level the series 1-1.

England | 849

England were also the first team to scale the 800-run mark in Test cricket when they amassed 849 against West Indies in a Kingston Test in 1930. Batting first, the openers for England got off to a good start and guided the visitors to 849 in the fourth Test of the West Indies tour. 

Andy Sandham scored a triple hundred (325) with his marathon knock including 28 fours while Les Ames scored a century and four other players also got into the act with half-centuries. 

Though the home side could manage only 286 in their first innings, they recovered well to score 408/5 in the second innings in pursuit of 836 as the match ended in a draw.

England | 823/7d

England also recorded 823/7d against Pakistan in 2024 - their third-highest score and fourth overall in Test cricket. With this, England made it their third appearance in the top-five list.

Chasing Pakistan’s first innings tally of 556, England were well-served by Harry Brook, who scored a triple century (317) and Joe Root finished with a double (262). Both players were involved in a fourth wicket association of 454 runs and that too in just 522 balls that deflated Pakistan. Both players aggregated 46 fours and three sixes together.

The worn-out Pakistan could score only 220 runs in their second batting essay and were handed an innings and 49-run defeat by the visitors.

Photo credit: Imago