A Test match can be long, longer than any sport you would see. 5 days of drama unfolding had never happened or will happen in any other sport. It can be testing, play a patient game on the players. And sometimes, when the batting team decides to put a big score on board, provided the conditions help, it will be challenging for the bowler and fielders.
This article will list down the highest team totals for every Test-playing nation in a Test innings.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 699 vs ZIM, 2024 | 545/4d vs ZIM, 2021 | 363 vs ZIM, 2025 | 342 vs BAN, 2019 | 314 vs IRE, 2019 |
| Australia | 758/8d vs WI, 1955 | 735/6d vs ZIM, 2003 | 729/6d vs ENG, 1930 | 701 vs ENG, 1934 | 695 vs ENG, 1930 |
| Bangladesh | 638 vs SL, 2013 | 595/8d vs NZ, 2017 | 565 vs PAK, 2024 | 560/6d vs ZIM, 2020 | 556 vs WI, 2012 |
| England | 903/7d vs AUS, 1938 | 849 vs WI, 1930 | 823/7d vs PAK, 2024 | 710/7d vs IND, 2011 | 658/8d vs AUS, 1938 |
| India | 759/7d vs ENG, 2016 | 726/9d vs SL, 2009 | 707 vs SL, 2010 | 705/7d vs AUS, 2004 | 687/6d vs BAN, 2017 |
| Ireland | 492 vs SL, 2023 | 362 vs ENG, 2023 | 339 vs PAK, 2018 | 298 vs ZIM, 2025 | 292 vs BAN, 2023 |
| New Zealand | 715/6d vs BAN, 2019 | 690 vs PAK, 2014 | 680/8d vs IND, 2014 | 671/4 vs SL, 1991 | 659/6d vs PAK, 2021 |
| Pakistan | 765/6d vs SL, 2009 | 708 vs ENG, 1987 | 699/5 vs IND, 1989 | 679/7d vs IND, 2006 | 674/6 vs IND, 1984 |
| South Africa | 682/6d vs ENG, 2003 | 658/9d vs WI, 2003 | 651 vs AUS, 2009 | 637/2d vs ENG, 2012 | 627/7d vs ENG, 2006 |
| Sri Lanka | 952/6d vs IND, 1997 | 760/7d vs IND, 2009 | 756/5d vs SA, 2006 | 730/6d vs BAN, 2014 | 713/3d vs ZIM, 2004 |
| West Indies | 790/3d vs PAK, 1958 | 751/5d vs ENG, 2004 | 749/9d vs ENG, 2009 | 747 vs SA, 2005 | 692/8d vs ENG, 1995 |
| Zimbabwe | 586 vs AFG, 2024 | 563/9d vs WI, 2001 | 544/4d vs PAK, 1995 | 542/7d vs BAN, 2001 | 507/9d vs WI, 2003 |
Key Stats
- Sri Lanka’s 952/6d against India in 1997 in Colombo is the highest score by a team in a Test innings.
- England are the only team to have scored 800+ total twice in Test cricket. They scored 903/7d against Australia in 1938 and 849 all-out against West Indies in 1930.
- England’s 849 in Kingston (Jamaica) is also the highest score by a team in an away Test match.
- In the list of teams with the Most 600+ totals in Test cricket, Australia (34) leads the chart, followed closely by India (33)
- The record for the highest Test score in an Indian venue is held by Sri Lanka – 760/7d against India (2009) in Ahmedabad.
- The highest Indian Test innings total is 759/7d in Chennai in England’s 2016 tour.
- No teams have ever lost a Test match after scoring a 600+ total.
The highest Test score in terms of the number of innings are:
| INNINGS | HIGHEST TEAM SCORE | AGAINST | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 903/7d – England | Australia | The Oval | 1938 |
| 2nd | 952/6d – Sri Lanka | India | Colombo (RPS) | 1997 |
| 3rd | 680/8d – New Zealand | India | Wellington | 2014 |
| 4th | 654/5 – England | South Africa | Durban | 1939 |
The Wrap
Even though England’s highest total, 903/7d against Australia, came in a timeless Test match, the match got over within five days, with Australia suffered an innings loss in that game. But the record for the highest Test total in the 4th innings of a match (England’s 654-5) came in a match that lasted for 10 days. Interestingly the game ended in a draw due to various reasons.
With the current teams looking for a result in every game, thanks to WTC’s points system and the evolution of Test cricket restricted to 4-days, the above numbers seem to stay there longer than expected.
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