With time, if anything that has evolved a lot is the role of a wicketkeeper in Tests. Back in the day, wicketkeepers were only required to keep the wickets. But now they have to double up as a keeper as well as a batter and score significant runs.
Over the years, we have seen some wicketkeepers who have been excellent behind the wickets as well as in front of the wickets with a bat.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 highest scores smashed by wicketkeepers in Tests.
Highest Scores by a Wicketkeeper in Tests
| Player | Score (Balls) | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Flower (ZIM) | 232* (444) | India | Nagpur | 25 Nov 2000 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 230 (327) | Pakistan | Lahore | 06 Mar 2002 |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 224 (265) | Australia | Chennai | 22 Feb 2013 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN) | 219* (421) | Zimbabwe | Mirpur | 11 Nov 2018 |
| Taslim Arif (PAK) | 210* (379) | Australia | Faisalabad | 06 Mar 1980 |
| Imtiaz Ahmed (PAK) | 209 (NA) | New Zealand | Lahore | 26 Oct 1955 |
| BJ Watling (NZ) | 205 (473) | England | Mount Maunganui | 21 Nov 2019 |
| Adam Gilchrist (AUS) | 204* (213) | South Africa | Johannesburg | 22 Feb 2002 |
| Brendon Kuruppu (SL) | 201* (548) | New Zealand | Colombo (CCC) | 16 Apr 1987 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN) | 200 (321) | Sri Lanka | Galle | 08 Mar 2013 |
Key Insights
232: Andy Flower holds the record for smashing the highest score as a wicketkeeper in Tests. The Zimbabwean keeper-batter accumulated an unbeaten 232 runs against India in Nagpur. And this knock came as a saviour for Zimbabwe, as they managed to draw the match after India enforced the follow-on.
199*: Flower became the first batter as well as a wicketkeeper to remain not out on 199 in Tests. During the first Test against South Africa in 2001, Flower scored 142 in the first innings and was left stranded on 199* in the second innings. But his heroics couldn’t help Zimbabwe win the Test match.
1: Pakistan’s Imtiaz Ahmed became the first wicketkeeper to cross the 200-run mark in Tests. He came to bat at No. 8 when Pakistan was reeling at 111/6 and went on to score 209 runs. Ahmed’s knock helped Pakistan take a lead over New Zealand and also win the game.
2: Bangladesh’s Mushfiquer Rahim became the first wicketkeeper-batter to hammer to 2 double centuries in Tests. His first double ton came in 2013 against Sri Lanka, while the second came in 2018 against Zimbabwe.
212: Adam Gilchrist, who revolutionised the keeper-batters role, slammed the fastest double hundred in Tests as a wicketkeeper. He brought up his double century in 212 balls, making it the fastest overall at that time before Nathan Astle’s rampage.
