In Test cricket, there’s no limit on how long a team can bat in a match. If a team decides to bat throughout 5 days without losing all 10 wickets, they can simply do that.
Such scenarios were common in earlier days or when teams played Timeless Tests, which ran until a winner emerged without restrictions on overs faced. There are no such limitations on how many overs a team can face, but nowadays teams are prioritising getting a result out of 5 days of play.
However, back in the day, teams used to bat longer and longer, with no respite to their opponent’s bowling attack. This article will glance at the top 10 instances of the longest innings played by a team in Test cricket (by balls faced).
Longest Test Innings by a Team (Balls Faced)
| Team | Balls Faced (Overs) | Score | Against | Venue | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2012 (335.2) | 903/7d | Australia | The Oval | 20 Aug 1938 |
| Pakistan | 1914 (319.0) | 657/8d | West Indies | Bridgetown | 17 Jan 1958 |
| England | 1759 (293.1) | 611 | Australia | Manchester | 23 Jul 1964 |
| England | 1746 (218.2×8) | 654/5 | South Africa | Durban | 3 Mar 1939 |
| England | 1633 (272.1) | 636 | Australia | Sydney | 14 Dec 1928 |
| Australia | 1629 (271.3) | 491 | England | Melbourne | 8 Mar 1929 |
| Sri Lanka | 1626 (271.0) | 952/6d | India | Colombo (RPS) | 2 Aug 1997 |
| South Africa | 1622 (202.6×8) | 530 | England | Durban | 3 Mar 1939 |
| New Zealand | 1608 (268.0) | 543/3d | West Indies | Georgetown | 6 Apr 1972 |
| England | 1550 (258.2) | 849 | West Indies | Kingston | 3 Apr 1930 |
Key Insights
2012 balls faced by England, making it the longest innings batted by a team in the Test format. England faced 335.2 overs in the first innings against Australia in the 1938 Oval Test. The English side scored a whopping 903/7d — England’s highest total and overall the second-highest team total in Tests.
The 5th Test match between South Africa and England in 1939 lasted 10 days — the longest-ever Test match played in terms of days. The Timeless Test witnessed South Africa and England face 1622 and 1746 balls in their first and second innings, respectively. At that time, one over consisted of 8 balls.
952/6d scored by Sri Lanka is the highest team total by a team in a Test innings. The Sri Lankan team batted for 271 overs against India, which saw Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama stitch the second-highest partnership in Tests (576 runs).
98 overs bowled by the West Indies Sonny Ramadhin is the longest spell bowled by a bowler in Tests. England faced a total of 258 overs, of which 98 were bowled by Ramadhin.
There are over 120 instances of teams facing 1200 or more balls in an innings, with only 38 instances resulting in a win for a team.
