Test cricket, in all its meandering glory, has always had a way of teasing out the extraordinary from the unrelenting. The format’s very nature is a slow-burn theatre of patience and precision, which means that when a team gets it right, it is hugely satisfying. The highest Test scores aren’t just numbers on a board. They’re the result of days-long dominations, forged in heat, sweat, and a refusal to budge.
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10 Teams With Highest Test Score (Updated 2025)

There’s something beautiful about a team piling on 900-plus. It defies the rush of the modern game, leans into the grind, and dares the opposition to outlast it. Sri Lanka’s 952/6 declared, still standing tall as the highest team score in Test cricket, is part of cricketing folklore. Yet, even in this era of Bazball and power-hitting, teams continue to flirt with those lofty summits, reminding us that Test cricket still knows how to flex.
So, as of 2025, we revisit the highest scores ever assembled. Reminiscing innings stitched with steel, bloated with boundaries, and dripping with narrative. Because in this longest format, sometimes it’s not about how quickly you score. Getting the highest Test score by team is about how long you’re willing to make the bowlers suffer.
20 Highest Scores in Test - Updated List
Test cricket’s history is filled with extraordinary batting feats. The highest team scores often span several days, featuring multiple centuries and marathon partnerships. These records reveal the evolution of batting strategies employed across various eras and conditions. In recent years, the all-time list has seen new entries, including the recently scored highest test score, which is England’s 823/7 in 2024. Here’s the updated list of the 20 highest team scores in Test cricket as of 2025.
Rank | Score | Overs | Team | Opposition | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 952/6d | 271.0 | Sri Lanka | India | 1997 |
2 | 903/7d | 335.2 | England | Australia | 1938 |
3 | 849 | 258.2 | England | West Indies | 1930 |
4 | 823/7d | 150.0 | England | Pakistan | 2024 |
5 | 790/3d | 208.1 | West Indies | Pakistan | 1958 |
6 | 765/6d | 248.5 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 2009 |
7 | 760/7d | 202.4 | Sri Lanka | India | 2009 |
8 | 759/7d | 190.4 | India | England | 2016 |
9 | 758/8d | 245.4 | Australia | West Indies | 1955 |
10 | 756/5d | 185.1 | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 2006 |
11 | 751/5d | 202.0 | West Indies | England | 2004 |
12 | 749/9d | 194.4 | West Indies | England | 2009 |
13 | 747 | 235.2 | West Indies | South Africa | 2005 |
14 | 735/6d | 146.3 | Australia | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
15 | 730/6d | 187.5 | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | 2014 |
16 | 729/6d | 232.0 | Australia | England | 1930 |
17 | 726/9d | 163.3 | India | Sri Lanka | 2009 |
18 | 715/6d | 163.0 | New Zealand | Bangladesh | 2019 |
19 | 713/3d | 165.3 | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2004 |
20 | 713/9d | 199.3 | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | 2018 |
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What is the Highest Score Ever in Test Cricket?
The highest test score by a team in Test cricket is Sri Lanka’s 952/6 declared against India in 1997, which remains the benchmark for the highest team score in Test cricket. On the individual front, the highest individual score in test cricket is held by Brian Lara, who scored an unbeaten 400 against England in 2004. Lara’s historic innings is unmatched, making him the only player to reach the 400-run mark in a single Test innings. Recent performances, like Wiaan Mulder’s 367* for South Africa in 2025, remain the second-highest individual score in Test. These monumental scores by teams and the highest individual score in test cricket reflect the pinnacle of batting achievement in the longest format, showcasing both individual brilliance and team dominance.
10. Sri Lanka | 756/5d
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Sri Lanka’s 756/5 declared against South Africa in Colombo (2006) was powered by Mahela Jayawardene’s monumental 374 and Kumar Sangakkara’s 287. Their 624-run partnership is the highest in Test history, propelling the team to a dominant position. The match showcased Sri Lanka’s batting depth and ended with a convincing victory, reinforcing their reputation for producing big scores on home soil. This huge pile of runs allowed Sri Lanka to build the tenth-highest score in Test match history.
9. Australia | 758/8d
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Australia scored 758/8 declared against West Indies in Kingston (1955). Neil Harvey’s 204 and contributions from the top order built this formidable total. The Australians batted with patience and authority, taking advantage of a flat pitch. Colin McDonald added 127, while Keith Miller chipped in with 109. Harvey and McDonald’s 295-run partnership for the third wicket set an Australian record at the time. Australia batted for 245.4 overs, amassing their highest Test total against the West Indies. They went on to win the match by an innings and 82 runs, clinching the five-match series 3-0.
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8. India | 759/7d
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India’s 759/7 declared against England in Chennai (2016) featured Karun Nair’s unbeaten 303 and KL Rahul’s 199. This innings helped India secure a massive win, underlining their dominance at home. Nair’s triple century was only the second by an Indian, making the match a historic occasion for Indian cricket fans. Parthiv Patel also contributed a valuable 71 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja’s quick 51* added late impetus. India batted for 190.4 overs, amassing their highest-ever Test total and the highest by any team against England. Their 282-run first-innings lead set up an innings and 75-run victory, sealing a 4-0 series win and extending India’s unbeaten home streak to 18 Tests. This match remains a landmark in India’s Test history.
7. Sri Lanka | 760/7d
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Sri Lanka posted 760/7 declared against India in Ahmedabad (2009). Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene played pivotal roles, with Mahela scoring a double century. The team’s disciplined approach and ability to capitalise on a docile pitch resulted in a high-scoring draw, further cementing Sri Lanka’s reputation for big totals.
6. Pakistan | 765/6d
Pakistan’s 765/6 declared against Sri Lanka in Karachi (2009) was led by Younis Khan’s 313, his maiden triple century and one of the highest individual scores by a Pakistani in Tests. Kamran Akmal also played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 158, while Yasir Arafat contributed 50*. Pakistan batted for 248.5 overs, displaying remarkable patience and skill to overhaul Sri Lanka’s imposing first-innings total of 644/7 declared. The match was a run-fest, with both sides breaking records: Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera set a then-record 437-run fourth-wicket partnership in their innings. Despite early pressure, Pakistan’s middle and lower order ensured they claimed their highest-ever team total in Test cricket.
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5. West Indies | 790/3d
West Indies amassed 790/3 declared against Pakistan in Kingston (1958), with Garry Sobers scoring an unbeaten 365 to create the fifth highest test score by team. Sobers’ record-breaking innings was supported by strong partnerships, allowing West Indies to dominate and set a then-world record for the highest individual score in Test cricket.
4. England | 823/7d
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England’s 823/7 declared against Pakistan in Multan (2024) was highlighted by Harry Brook’s triple century and Joe Root’s double century. The aggressive approach and depth in batting enabled England to post this mammoth total, and the fourth-highest Test score. This match reflects their modern attacking mindset and adaptability in subcontinent conditions.
3. England | 849
England scored 849 against the West Indies in Kingston (1930), with Andy Sandham’s 325 leading the way for the third-highest test score. This was the first triple century in Test cricket. England batted for 258.2 overs, with three century partnerships. The match ended in a draw, but Sandham’s achievement and England’s relentless accumulation of runs made it a landmark game, with the total standing as a record for nearly a decade.
2. England | 903/7d
England’s 903/7 declared against Australia at The Oval (1938) was anchored by Len Hutton’s 364. England batted for 335.2 overs, with a run rate of 2.69. The total included three massive partnerships, and England won by an innings and 579 runs, which is the largest margin in Test history. Hutton’s innings stood as a record for nearly 20 years, and the runs scored remain the second-highest score in Test match history.
1. Sri Lanka | 952/6d

Sri Lanka’s 952/6 declared against India in Colombo (1997) remains the highest Test score. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225, sharing a 576-run stand which is the highest partnership for any wicket in Test history. To achieve the highest team score in Test cricket, Sri Lanka batted for 271 overs, with six batsmen reaching fifty or more. The match featured six centuries and ended in a draw, but set multiple records, including the most runs in a single Test and the longest partnership to last two full days. The mammoth runs scored by Sri Lanka remain the highest score in a Test match.
Ranking Factor
The ranking factor for the top 10 highest test score lists is straightforward. Teams are ranked solely by the highest team score in test cricket achieved in a single completed innings. Match result, opposition, or venue are not considered. This method ensures the list reflects the most prolific batting performances in Test history, focusing solely on aggregate team runs.
- The ranking factor for the top 10 highest test score lists is based solely on the highest team score in Test cricket achieved in a single innings.
- Teams are ranked by the total number of runs amassed in one completed innings, regardless of match result, opposition, or venue.
- There is no consideration given to whether the match was won, lost, or drawn.
- The focus is strictly on the highest score in Test match history by a team, making it a straightforward statistical ranking.
- Individual achievements, such as the highest individual score in Test or the highest Test score by batsman, are not factored into this specific team ranking.
- However, notable individual records are often highlighted within the context of these record team innings.
- For example, Brian Lara’s 400* (the highest Test score individual) is celebrated alongside the West Indies’ team total in that match.
- Similarly, Sri Lanka’s 952/6 declared is ranked at the top because it is the highest score in Test cricket by a team, regardless of other variables.
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FAQs
What is the highest score ever in Test cricket?
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What is the highest score ever in Test cricket?
The highest score ever in Test cricket is 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka against India at Colombo in August 1997.
What is the highest test innings total score?
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What is the highest test innings total score?
The highest Test innings total score is also 952/6 declared by Sri Lanka, achieved in the same match against India in 1997.
Has anyone scored 400 in Tests?
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Has anyone scored 400 in Tests?
Yes, Brian Lara of the West Indies scored 400 not out against England in 2004, which remains the only quadruple century in Test cricket.
What is the highest score in Test cricket individual?
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What is the highest score in Test cricket individual?
The highest individual score in Test cricket is 400 not out by Brian Lara for West Indies against England in 2004.
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