Test cricket is where legends are made. It’s the format that separates the good from the great, where you can’t hide behind quick hitting or flashy shots for long. The biggest individual scores in Test cricket history? They’re not just numbers on a scoreboard. These are stories of mental toughness, skill, and sometimes pure stubbornness that changed cricket forever. Discover our top list of cricket batsmen test score!
Table of Contents
Brian Lara’s Unbeatable 400: Still the King After 20 Years
#1 Brian Lara (West Indies) – 400 not out vs England, April 2004
Let’s be honest – Brian Lara’s 400 not out is probably never getting beaten. Twenty years later, and nobody’s even come close. The guy batted for nearly 13 hours straight at Antigua, facing 582 balls and smashing 43 fours plus 4 sixes.
What makes it even crazier? The West Indies declared at 751/5 and still won by an innings and 226 runs. Lara didn’t just break the record – he obliterated it. And he did it at the same ground where he’d already broken the record once before, ten years earlier.
The Records That Came and Went: Cricket’s Biggest Scores
#2 Matthew Hayden (Australia) – 380 vs Zimbabwe, October 2003
For a brief moment, Matthew Hayden held the record with his brutal 380 in Perth. The Australian opener took just 437 balls to get there, smacking 38 fours and 11 sixes. Hayden was never one to mess around – if the ball was there to hit, he’d hit it. Hard.
#3 Brian Lara (West Indies) – 375 vs England, April 1994
Before the 400, there was the 375. Same ground, same opponent, same Lara magic. This was the innings that announced Lara to the world, breaking Garfield Sobers’ record that had stood for 36 years. Not bad for a 24-year-old from Trinidad.
Old School Giants Who Set the Bar
#4 Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 374 vs South Africa, July 2006
Mahela Jayawardene was pure class. His 374 in Colombo was all about timing, placement, and cricket intelligence. While others were trying to smash the ball, Mahela was picking gaps and running hard. Sometimes the old ways work best.
#5 Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 365 not out vs Pakistan, February 1958
Sobers was just 21 when he made 365 not out in Kingston. Think about that – 21 years old and setting a world record that would last 36 years. The guy hit 38 boundaries back when cricket was a very different game. Pure talent.
#6 Len Hutton (England) – 364 vs Australia, August 1938
Hutton’s 364 at The Oval was a marathon – 847 balls over nearly 13 and a half hours. Against Australia too, which was never easy. The man had incredible patience and concentration. Different era, different style, same result.
Modern Day Heroes and Their Massive Knocks
#7 Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 340 vs India, August 1997
Everyone knows Jayasuriya for his explosive one-day cricket, but the guy could construct a Test innings too. His 340 helped Sri Lanka to 952/6 declared – still the highest team total ever. Sometimes the big hitters surprise you.
#8 Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan) – 337 vs West Indies, January 1958
The “Little Master” saved Pakistan with this knock in Bridgetown. Sixteen hours at the crease – imagine that level of concentration. Hanif was small but had the heart of a lion.
#9 Wally Hammond (England) – 336 not out vs New Zealand, March 1933
Hammond’s 336 not out featured 10 sixes, which was unheard of in 1933. The guy was ahead of his time, playing shots that wouldn’t become common for decades.
#10 David Warner (Australia) – 335 not out vs Pakistan, November 2019
Warner’s recent 335 not out in Adelaide showed that modern players are still chasing these massive scores. Good to see the tradition continues.
How These Big Scores Shake Up Cricket Betting
When someone starts piling on the runs in Test cricket, it’s not just about making history, it completely changes the cricket betting landscape too. Think about it: when Lara was approaching 400 or when Gill was building his big score, nobody knew what was coming next. That uncertainty drives punters and bookmakers absolutely mad.
Live betting during these mega innings is where things get really wild. The bookies are constantly updating their odds as each milestone gets closer. Once a batsman hits 250, suddenly the chances of reaching 300 look completely different, and that ripple effect hits everything from individual scoring bets to who’s going to win the match.
These days, cricket betting platforms have gotten pretty creative with their markets. You’ll find bets on whether someone will reach 200, who’ll top-score in the match, or if there’ll be any century partnerships. When a batsman is in the middle of a marathon knock, these markets bounce around like crazy. Smart cricket fans who know their history can sometimes spot value when the odds haven’t caught up with what’s actually happening out there.
India’s Best: The Subcontinental Batting Masters
Shubman Gill’s 2025 Classic: The New Kid on the Block
July 2025 will be remembered for Shubman Gill’s incredible 269 at Edgbaston. Not only did he become the first Indian captain to score a double century in SENA countries, but he did it in style in England.
At 25 years and 298 days, Gill became the second-youngest Indian captain to hit a Test double hundred. Only Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was younger when he did it. The future of Indian cricket looks pretty bright with this guy leading the way.
India’s Biggest Test Scores: The Top 10 List
1. Virender Sehwag – 319 vs South Africa (Chennai, 2008) Sehwag’s 319 remains India’s highest Test score. The guy played cricket like he was in a hurry to catch a train – always attacking, never defending. Revolutionary stuff.
2. Virender Sehwag – 309 vs Pakistan (Multan, 2004) Another Sehwag special, this time in Pakistan. Same attacking approach, same devastating results.
3. Karun Nair – 303 not out vs England (Chennai, 2016) Karun Nair came out of nowhere to become only the second Indian to score a triple century. Sometimes cricket surprises you.
4. Virender Sehwag – 293 vs Sri Lanka (Mumbai, 2009) Seven runs short of another triple ton. Must have been frustrating, but still a phenomenal knock.
5. VVS Laxman – 281 vs Australia (Kolkata, 2001) The most important innings on this list. Laxman’s 281 turned around that series against Australia and changed Indian cricket forever. Context matters.
6. Rahul Dravid – 270 vs Pakistan (Rawalpindi, 2004) “The Wall” doing what he did best – grinding out runs with perfect technique. This innings in Pakistan was a masterclass.
7. Shubman Gill – 269 vs England (Birmingham, 2025) The newest member of this elite club. A captain’s knock that announced Gill as India’s new batting star.
8. Virat Kohli – 254 not out vs South Africa (Pune, 2019) Kohli’s highest Test score showed his class against quality bowling. Pure technique and determination.
9. Virender Sehwag – 254 vs Pakistan (Lahore, 2006) Fourth entry for Sehwag in this top 10. The man was just different.
10. Sachin Tendulkar – 248 not out vs Bangladesh (Dhaka, 2004) The Master Blaster’s highest Test score. Against Bangladesh maybe, but still a display of his incredible ability.
Why These Innings Still Matter Today
These massive scores aren’t just about the numbers. They represent something special in cricket : the ability to concentrate for hours, to build an innings brick by brick, and to take the game away from the opposition.
From Lara’s untouchable 400 to Gill’s recent masterclass, each of these innings tells a story. They show how the game has evolved while the fundamental challenge remains the same – scoring runs against world-class bowling over multiple days.
Modern cricket might be getting faster and flashier, but Test cricket’s biggest scores remind us why the long format is still the ultimate test. These innings inspire the next generation and keep the tradition alive.
Whether you’re just getting into cricket or you’ve been watching for decades, these performances show what makes Test cricket special. It’s not just about hitting boundaries – it’s about mental strength, technical skill, and the ability to perform when it matters most.
