In the history of Test cricket, Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 remains the greatest individual batting feat ever recorded. This legendary knock, made against England in 2004, still holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket.
Recently, Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe in July 2025 has shaken up the record books, becoming one of the top 5 highest scores in Test history and the highest ever by a South African batter.
In this article, we take a closer look at the top 31 highest individual scores in Test history. We’ll break down the top 10 iconic innings, highlight Mulder’s entry into this elite list, and also explore the highest individual scores by Indian Test batters.
Highest Individual Score In Test Cricket
The pursuit of big scores has been a hallmark of Test cricket since its inception. Here’s a table showcasing the 31 highest individual scores in Test history:
Player | Score | Balls | SR | 4s | 6s | Team | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Lara | 400* | 582 | 68.72 | 43 | 4 | West Indies | England | St John’s | 10 Apr 2004 |
Matthew Hayden | 380 | 437 | 86.95 | 38 | 11 | Australia | Zimbabwe | Perth | 09 Oct 2003 |
Brian Lara | 375 | 538 | 69.70 | 45 | – | West Indies | England | St John’s | 16 Apr 1994 |
Mahela Jayawardene | 374 | 572 | 65.38 | 43 | 1 | Sri Lanka | South Africa | Colombo (SSC) | 27 Jul 2006 |
Wiaan Mulder | 367* | 334 | 109.88 | 49 | 4 | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Queens Sports Club | 07 Jul 2025 |
Garfield Sobers | 365* | – | – | 38 | – | West Indies | Pakistan | Kingston | 26 Feb 1958 |
Len Hutton | 364 | 847 | 42.97 | 35 | – | England | Australia | The Oval | 20 Aug 1938 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 340 | 578 | 58.82 | 36 | 2 | Sri Lanka | India | Colombo (RPS) | 02 Aug 1997 |
Hanif Mohammad | 337 | – | – | 24 | – | Pakistan | West Indies | Bridgetown | 17 Jan 1958 |
Wally Hammond | 336* | – | – | 34 | 10 | England | New Zealand | Auckland | 31 Mar 1933 |
David Warner | 335* | 418 | 80.14 | 39 | 1 | Australia | Pakistan | Adelaide | 29 Nov 2019 |
Mark Taylor | 334* | 564 | 59.21 | 32 | 1 | Australia | Pakistan | Peshawar | 15 Oct 1998 |
Don Bradman | 334 | 448 | 74.55 | 46 | – | Australia | England | Leeds | 11 Jul 1930 |
Graham Gooch | 333 | 485 | 68.65 | 43 | 3 | England | India | Lord’s | 26 Jul 1990 |
Chris Gayle | 333 | 437 | 76.20 | 34 | 9 | West Indies | Sri Lanka | Galle | 15 Nov 2010 |
Michael Clarke | 329* | 468 | 70.29 | 39 | 1 | Australia | India | Sydney | 03 Jan 2012 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq | 329 | 436 | 75.45 | 38 | 9 | Pakistan | New Zealand | Lahore | 01 May 2002 |
Andy Sandham | 325 | 640 | 50.78 | 28 | – | England | West Indies | Kingston | 03 Apr 1930 |
Virender Sehwag | 319 | 304 | 104.93 | 42 | 5 | India | South Africa | Chennai | 26 Mar 2008 |
Kumar Sangakkara | 319 | 482 | 66.18 | 32 | 8 | Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 04 Feb 2014 |
Chris Gayle | 317 | 483 | 65.63 | 37 | 3 | West Indies | South Africa | St John’s | 29 Apr 2005 |
Harry Brook | 317 | 322 | 98.44 | 29 | 3 | England | Pakistan | Multan | 07 Oct 2024 |
Younis Khan | 313 | 568 | 55.10 | 27 | 4 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 21 Feb 2009 |
Hashim Amla | 311* | 529 | 58.79 | 35 | – | South Africa | England | The Oval | 19 Jul 2012 |
Bob Simpson | 311 | 743 | 41.85 | 23 | 1 | Australia | England | Manchester | 23 Jul 1964 |
John Edrich | 310* | 450 | 68.88 | 52 | 5 | England | New Zealand | Leeds | 08 Jul 1965 |
Virender Sehwag | 309 | 375 | 82.40 | 39 | 6 | India | Pakistan | Multan | 28 Mar 2004 |
Ross Cowper | 307 | 589 | 52.12 | 20 | – | Australia | England | Melbourne | 11 Feb 1966 |
Don Bradman | 304 | 473 | 64.27 | 43 | 2 | Australia | England | Leeds | 20 Jul 1934 |
Karun Nair | 303* | 381 | 79.52 | 32 | 4 | India | England | Chennai | 16 Dec 2016 |
Azhar Ali | 302* | 469 | 64.39 | 23 | 2 | Pakistan | West Indies | Dubai (DICS) | 13 Oct 2016 |
Now, let’s take a closer look at the top 11 innings that have defined Test batting excellence:
1. Brian Lara (400* vs England, 2004)
Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 against England in Antigua is the stuff of legend. Over 778 minutes and 582 balls, Lara crafted a masterpiece, hitting 43 fours and 4 sixes. This innings not only broke Matthew Hayden’s then-record of 380 but also made Lara the first and only player to score 400 in a Test inning.
2. Matthew Hayden (380 vs Zimbabwe, 2003)
Hayden’s brutal 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth was a display of sheer dominance. His innings lasted 622 minutes and included 38 fours and 11 sixes. Hayden’s aggressive approach set a new benchmark for opening batsmen in Test cricket.
3. Brian Lara (375 vs England, 1994)
A decade before his 400*, Lara announced himself on the world stage with a magnificent 375 against England, also in Antigua. This innings, featuring 45 fours, broke Sir Garfield Sobers’ long-standing record of 365*.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (374 vs South Africa, 2006)
Jayawardene’s 374 against South Africa in Colombo was a masterclass in concentration and skill. His innings spanned 752 minutes and included 43 boundaries, showcasing his ability to play long, match-defining knocks.
5. Wiaan Mulder (367* vs Zimbabwe, 2025)
Wiaan Mulder delivered a historic performance in the second Test against Zimbabwe, reaching an unbeaten 367 by lunch on Day 2. The South African skipper smashed records with ease, becoming the fastest South African to a triple century and surpassing Hashim Amla’s previous national best. His powerful strokeplay and steady mindset helped him climb to fifth on the all-time highest Test scores list. He was just 33 runs away from breaking Brian Lara’s iconic 400*, but he declared the innings in respect to Lara’s legendary score.
6. Garfield Sobers (365* vs Pakistan, 1958)
Sir Garfield Sobers’ unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in Kingston held the record for the highest individual score for 36 years. This innings, which included 38 boundaries, cemented Sobers’ status as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
7. Len Hutton (364 vs Australia, 1938)
Hutton’s 364 against Australia at The Oval was a marathon effort lasting 797 minutes. His innings, which included 35 fours, stood as the highest individual score in Test cricket for two decades.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya (340 vs India, 1997)
Jayasuriya’s explosive 340 against India in Colombo was a testament to his aggressive batting style. His innings, scored at a strike rate of 58.82, included 36 fours and 2 sixes.
9. Hanif Mohammad (337 vs West Indies, 1958)
Hanif Mohammad’s 337 against the West Indies in Bridgetown was an epic display of endurance, lasting 970 minutes. This innings saved the match for Pakistan and earned Hanif the nickname “Little Master.”
10. Wally Hammond (336* vs New Zealand, 1933)
Hammond’s unbeaten 336 against New Zealand in Auckland was a dominant performance that included 34 fours and 10 sixes. This innings showcased Hammond’s elegance and power.
11. David Warner (335* vs Pakistan, 2019)
Warner’s unbeaten 335 against Pakistan in Adelaide was a return to form for the Australian opener. His innings, scored at a strike rate of 80.14, included 39 fours and 1 six.
Highest Individual Scores For India In Test
Indian batsmen have also left their mark on Test cricket with some exceptional individual performances. Here’s a table of the top 10 highest individual scores by Indian batsmen in Tests:
Player | Score | Balls | SR | 4s | 6s | Opponent | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virender Sehwag | 319 | 304 | 104.93 | 42 | 5 | South Africa | Chennai | 26 Mar 2008 |
Virender Sehwag | 309 | 375 | 82.40 | 39 | 6 | Pakistan | Multan | 28 Mar 2004 |
Karun Nair | 303* | 381 | 79.52 | 32 | 4 | England | Chennai | 16 Dec 2016 |
Virender Sehwag | 293 | 254 | 115.35 | 40 | 7 | Sri Lanka | Mumbai | 02 Dec 2009 |
VVS Laxman | 281 | 452 | 62.16 | 44 | – | Australia | Kolkata | 11 Mar 2001 |
Rahul Dravid | 270 | 495 | 54.54 | 34 | 1 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 13 Apr 2004 |
Virat Kohli | 254* | 336 | 75.59 | 33 | 2 | South Africa | Pune | 10 Oct 2019 |
Virender Sehwag | 254 | 247 | 102.83 | 47 | 1 | Pakistan | Lahore | 13 Jan 2006 |
Sachin Tendulkar | 248* | 379 | 65.43 | 35 | – | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 10 Dec 2004 |
Virat Kohli | 243 | 287 | 84.66 | 25 | – | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 02 Dec 2017 |
Virender Sehwag features prominently in this list, holding the top three positions. His aggressive batting style revolutionized Test match opening, as evidenced by his 319 against South Africa in 2008, which remains the highest individual score by an Indian in Tests.
Karun Nair’s unbeaten 303 against England in 2016 is notable as it made him only the second Indian to score a triple century in Tests. VVS Laxman’s 281 against Australia in 2001 at Eden Gardens, while not the highest score, is often considered one of the greatest innings in Test history due to its context and impact on the match and series.
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Conclusion: Brian Lara’s 400* Remains the Highest Test Score
The highest individual scores in Test cricket showcase the ultimate test of a batter’s skill, patience, and mental strength. These marathon innings aren’t just about the number of runs; they reflect grit, stamina, and the ability to dominate the world’s best bowling attacks.
From Brian Lara’s iconic 400* to recent entries like Wiaan Mulder’s 367 and Harry Brook’s 317, these knocks continue to set benchmarks and inspire generations of cricketers. For India, legends like Sehwag, Kohli, and Dravid have delivered unforgettable innings that not only made records but also changed the course of matches and series.
While new talents continue to rise and Test cricket evolves, breaking Lara’s massive 400* still remains one of the toughest challenges in the game—one that demands nothing short of greatness.
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