Highest Partnership in Test Cricket

Top 10 Highest Partnership in Test Cricket (2025 Updated)

Raushan Kumar

Published - Oct 01, 2025, 01:35 PM

7 min

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Summary

The highest Test partnership is 624 by Sangakkara–Jayawardene (SL vs SA, 2006). Others include Jayasuriya–Mahanama’s 576, Hadlee–Jones’ 467, and iconic stands like Dravid–Laxman and McCullum–Watling. These top 10 partnerships showcase patience, dominance, and teamwork that shaped historic matches.

In Test cricket, partnerships are the backbone of a team’s innings. Unlike the shorter formats like ODI and T20, where big hitting and fast runs are more important, but in the longest format, the game is all about building long stands. A strong stand between two batters can take away the pressure from the bowlers, change the match situation, and sometimes create history.

That is why records like the highest partnership in Test cricket are very special. Some of these partnerships have lasted for hours and even days, making it tough for the opposition to fight back. In this article, we will look at the Top 10 highest partnerships in Test cricket history, including the record for the highest opening partnership in Test cricket and also the highest partnership in Test cricket for India.

List of Top 10 Highest Partnership in Test Cricket

Partnership in Test cricket is not just about scoring runs; it is also about patience, discipline, and staying on the pitch for long hours. The highest partnership in Test cricket shows how two batters can fight together against strong bowling attacks. These records are not made in one over, they are made after long batting and teamwork. Here we will look at the highest partnership in Test cricket history, including the highest opening partnership in Test cricket and also the best record for India.

Rank	Partners	Runs	Wicket	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
1	Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene	624	3rd	Sri Lanka	South Africa	Colombo (SSC)	Jul 2006
2	Roshan Mahanama & Sanath Jayasuriya	576	2nd	Sri Lanka	India	Colombo (RPS)	Aug 1997
3	Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe	467	3rd	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	Wellington	Jan 1991
4	Joe Root & Harry Brook	454	4th	England	Pakistan	Multan	Oct 2024
5	Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman	451	2nd	Australia	England	The Oval	Aug 1934
6	Mudassar Nazar & Javed Miandad	451	3rd	Pakistan	India	Hyderabad (Sind)	Jan 1983
7	Adam Voges & Shaun Marsh	449	4th	Australia	West Indies	Hobart	Dec 2015
8	Garfield Sobers & Conrad Hunte	446	2nd	West Indies	Pakistan	Kingston	Feb 1958
9	Kumar Sangakkara & Marvan Atapattu	438	2nd	Sri Lanka	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	May 2004
10	Thilan Samaraweera & Mahela Jayawardene	437	4th	Sri Lanka	Pakistan	Karachi	Feb 2009

Which is the Highest Partnership in Test?

When we talk about the highest partnership in Test cricket, many people think the record will be from Australia or England, because they are the oldest and strongest teams in the Test format. But that is not true. The record for the highest partnership in Test cricket history belongs to Sri Lanka. In 2006, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene made a huge 624 runs for the third wicket against South Africa in Colombo. Till today, this is still the highest partnership in Test cricket.

10. Thilan Samaraweera & Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | 2009

In February 2009, at Karachi, during the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Thilan Samaraweera & Mahela Jayawardene put up a remarkable 437-run stand for the fourth wicket. Samaraweera scored a fine 231 runs off 318 balls with 34 fours, while Jayawardene was the star with 240 runs in 424 balls, including 32 fours. This partnership helped Sri Lanka post a massive total.

9. Kumar Sangakkara & Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | 2004

In May 2004 at Bulawayo, Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu put together a huge 438-run partnership for the second wicket against Zimbabwe. Atapattu got 249 runs from 350 balls. Sangakkara, on the other hand, scored 270 runs in 365 balls, hitting 36 fours. This was one of the highest partnerships in Test cricket, and it totally crushed the Zimbabwe bowling.

8. Garfield Sobers & Conrad Hunte | West Indies vs Pakistan | 1958

Back in February 1958 at Kingston, Garfield Sobers and Conrad Hunte made a really big 446-run partnership for the second wicket against Pakistan. Sobers scored 365 not out, which was the highest individual score in Test cricket back then, while Hunte got 260 runs. This still counts as one of the highest partnerships in Test cricket history and one of the best stands ever.

7. Adam Voges & Shaun Marsh | Australia vs West Indies | 2015

In December 2015, at Hobart, Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh combined for a massive 449-run stand for the fourth wicket against the West Indies. Marsh made 182 runs off 266 balls, while Voges played an unforgettable knock of 269* runs off 285 balls, smashing 33 fours. Their partnership took the game completely away from the visitors.

6. Mudassar Nazar & Javed Miandad | Pakistan vs India | 1983

Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad partnered together for a 451-run stand for the third wicket against India. Mudassar scored 231 runs off 555 balls. While Miandad smashed 280* runs in 460 balls with 19 fours. This partnership remains Pakistan’s highest partnership in Test cricket.

5. Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman | Australia vs England | 1934

At The Oval in August 1934, Australian legends Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman shared a 451-run partnership for the second wicket against England. Ponsford scored 266 runs in 422 balls, while Bradman, the godfather of cricket, dominated with 244 runs off just 271 balls. This partnership helped Australia set up a memorable victory in the Ashes.

4. Joe Root & Harry Brook | England vs Pakistan | 2024

In October 2024 at Multan, Joe Root and Harry Brook made a huge 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket against Pakistan. Root scored 238 runs from 381 balls, while Brook made 212 runs in 255 balls. This partnership is one of the highest partnerships in Test cricket history and helped England reach one of their highest totals overseas.

3. Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | 1991

In January 1991 at Wellington, Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe batted really well to make 467 runs for the third wicket against Sri Lanka. Jones scored 186 runs from 454 balls. Captain Crowe made 299 runs. He was just one run short of a triple century. This is still one of the highest partnerships in Test cricket and remains New Zealand’s highest in Tests.

2. Roshan Mahanama & Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka vs India | 1997

In August 1997 at Colombo (RPS), Roshan Mahanama and Sanath Jayasuriya made one of the highest partnership in test cricket history. This partnership was of 576 runs for the second wicket against India. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 runs in 578 balls, and Roshan Mahanama scored 225 runs. The Match was later drawn. But this is still the second-highest partnership in Test cricket history.

1. Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka vs South Africa | 2006

The highest partnership in Test cricket belongs to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who were considered to be the greatest Test players. In July 2006 at Colombo (SSC), they made a record 624-run partnership for the third wicket against South Africa. Sangakkara scored 287 runs from 457 balls, while Jayawardene scored 374 runs in 572 balls. This is still the highest partnership in Test cricket history and has never been beaten.