Batting Records

Top 10: Highest Score by a Visiting Batter in 2nd Innings of Test in India

The Test format lives up to its name by testing the batter’s skills and character. Unlike the limited overs format, batters need to toil hard to score runs in the longer format.

And if a visiting team lands in India to play a Test series against the host, it’s a steep challenge for their batters to accumulate runs on Indian surfaces.

The Indian pitches are conducive for spinners, which further deteriorate as the match proceeds. India boasts formidable spinners who are known for spinning their web across batters.

However, some notable batters have overcome the spin challenge and scored memorable knocks, that too in the 2nd innings of a match.

So, here are the top 10 highest individual scores by visiting batters in the 2nd innings of a Test in India.

Highest Scores by Visiting Batters in 2nd Innings in India (Test)

PlayerScore (Balls)4s/6sVenueMatch Date
Andy Flower (ZIM)232* (444)30/2Nagpur25 Nov 2000
Brendon McCullum (NZ)225 (308)22/4Hyderabad12 Nov 2010
Gary Sobers (WI)198 (NA)28/0Kanpur12 Dec 1958
Ollie Pope (ENG)196 (278)21/0Hyderabad25 Jan 2024
Saeed Anwar (PAK) 188* (259)23/1Eden Gardens16 Feb 1999
Alastair Cook (ENG)176 (374)21/0Ahmedabad15 Nov 2012
Ken Barrington (ENG)172 (NA)26/0Kanpur1 Dec 1961
Clive Lloyd (WI)163 (149)22/2Bengaluru22 Nov 1974
Neil McKenzie (SA)155* (339)13/1Chennai26 Mar 2008
Daryll Cullinan (SA)153* (261)15/1Eden Gardens27 Nov 1996

Key Insights

232: Zimbabwe’s former keeper-batter became the first visiting batter to score a Test double-century in the second innings in India. His knock of an unbeaten 232 is also the highest score while batting in the 2nd innings by an overseas batter. Moreover, this is the highest score by a wicketkeeper in the Test format.

109.39: Clive Lloyd’s knock of 163 came at a strike rate of 109.39. He is the only visiting batter who scored a century in the 2nd innings at a 100+ strike rate.

3: England’s former elegant opener, Alastair Cook, found India as a happy hunting ground, as he amassed 5 hundreds in India. Out of the 5 centuries, 3 came while batting in the 2nd innings, with 176 being his highest. What’s special about this feat is that Cook is the only overseas batter to have 3 hundreds in the stated innings.

140: The West Indies’ finest batter, Gary Sobers, is the only visiting batter with 2 140+ knocks. His first innings was an unbeaten 142, while the second was 198. Interestingly, both innings came in back-to-back matches in the 1958 series.

40: There are over 40 instances of a batter scoring a Test century in the 2nd innings on Indian soil.

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