List of Test cricket records

Categories: Test cricket records | Sports-related lists

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This is a list of Test cricket records, that is record team and individual performances in Test cricket. Records for the short form of international cricket, One-day Internationals, are at List of One-day International records.

Cricket is by its nature capable of generating large numbers of records and statistics. Test cricket has been played since 1877 with essentially the same rules as are played today, and therefore many comparisons can be made of teams and individuals through these records.

Contents

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Listing criteria

In general the top five are listed in each category (except when there is a tie for the last place among the five, when all the tied record holders are noted).

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Listing notation

Team Notation

  • (300-3) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets and the innings was closed, either due to a successful run chase or if no playing time remained.
  • (300-3 d) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets, and declared its innings closed.
  • (300) indicates that a team scored 300 runs and was all out, either by losing all ten wickets or by having one or more batsmen unable to bat and losing the remaining wickets.

Batting Notation

  • (100) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was out.
  • (100*) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was not out.

Bowling Notation

  • (5-100) indicates that a bowler has captured 5 wickets while giving away 100 runs.

Currently playing

  • Record holders who are currently playing Test cricket (i.e. their record details listed could change) are shown in bold.
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Team records

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Team wins, losses, ties, and draws

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Matches played

Rank Team Matches Won Lost Drawn Tied % Won
1 Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 671 305 178 186 2 63.15
2 Image:England flag.svg England 839 293 241 305 0 54.86
3 Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan 312 96 82 134 0 53.41
4 Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies 423 149 130 143 1 53.21
5 Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 303 99 106 98 0 48.29
6 Image:Sri lanka flag large.png Sri Lanka 153 41 58 54 0 41.41
7 Image:Flag of India.svg India 387 84 127 175 1 39.81
8 Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 324 59 128 137 0 31.55
9 Image:Zimbabwe flag large.png Zimbabwe 83 8 49 26 0 14.04
10 Image:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh 40 1 35 4 0 2.78
11 Image:Icc large.jpg ICC World XI 1 0 1 0 0 0.00
Win percentage excludes drawn and tied matches.

Source: [1]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.

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Greatest win margins (by innings)

Rank Margin Teams Venue Season
1 Innings and 579 runs Image:England flag.svg England (903-7 d) beat Australia (201 & 123) The Oval, London 1938
2 Innings and 360 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (652-7 d) beat South Africa (159 & 133) Johannesburg 2001/02
3 Innings and 336 runs Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (614-5 d) beat India (124 & 154) Kolkata 1958/59
4 Innings and 332 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (645) beat England (141 & 172) Brisbane 1946/47
5 Innings and 324 runs Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (643) beat New Zealand (73 & 246) Lahore 2002
Source: [2]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Greatest win margins (by runs)

Rank Margin Teams Venue Season
1 675 runs Image:England flag.svg England (521 & 342-8 d) beat Australia (122 & 66) Brisbane Exhibition Ground 1928/29
2 562 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (701 & 327) beat England (321 & 145) The Oval, London 1934
3 530 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (328 & 578) beat South Africa (205 & 171) Melbourne 1910/11
4 491 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (381 & 361-5 d) beat Pakistan (179 & 72) Perth 2004/05
5 425 runs Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (211 & 411-5 d) beat England (71 & 126) Manchester 1976
Source: [3]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Narrowest win margins (by wickets)

Margin Teams Venue Season
By 1 wicket Image:England flag.svg England (183 & 263-9) beat Australia (324 & 121) The Oval, London 1902
By 1 wicket Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (91 & 287-9) beat England (184 & 190) Johannesburg 1905/06
By 1 wicket Image:England flag.svg England (382 & 282-9) beat Australia (266 & 397) Melbourne 1907/08
By 1 wicket Image:England flag.svg England (183 & 173-9) beat South Africa (113 & 242) Capetown 1922/23
By 1 wicket Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (216 & 260-9) beat West Indies (272 & 203) Melbourne 1951/52
By 1 wicket Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand (249 & 104-9) beat West Indies (140 & 212) Dunedin 1979/80
By 1 wicket Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (256 & 315-9) beat Australia (337 & 232) Karachi 1994/95
By 1 wicket Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (329 & 311-9) beat Australia (490 & 146) Bridgetown 1998/99
By 1 wicket Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (273 & 216-9) beat Pakistan (269 & 219) St John's 1999/00
By 1 wicket Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (175 & 262-9) beat Bangladesh (281 & 154) Multan 2003
Source: [4]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Narrowest win margins (by runs)

Rank Margin Teams Venue Season
1 1 run Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (252 & 146) beat Australia (213 & 184) Adelaide 1992/93
2 2 runs Image:England flag.svg England (407 & 182) beat Australia (308 & 279) Birmingham 2005
=3 3 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (299 & 86) beat England (262 & 120) Manchester 1902
=3 3 runs Image:England flag.svg England (284 & 294) beat Australia (287 & 288) Melbourne 1982/83
5 5 runs Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (169 & 239) beat Australia (292 & 111) Sydney 1993/94
Source: [5]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most consecutive Test wins

Rank Wins Team Period
1 16 matches Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia from 1999/00 to 2000/01
2 11 matches Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies from 1983/84 to 1984/85
=3 9 matches Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa from 2001/02 to 2003
=3 9 matches Image:Sri lanka flag large.png Sri Lanka from 2001 to 2001/02
=5 8 matches Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia from 1920/21 to 1921
=5 8 matches Image:England flag.svg England from 2004 to 2004/05
Source: [6]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most consecutive Test losses

Rank Losses Team Period
1 21 matches Image:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh from 2001/02 to 2003/04
2 11 matches Image:Zimbabwe flag large.png Zimbabwe from 2001/02 to 2003/04
=3 8 matches Image:England flag.svg England from 1920/21 to 1921
=3 8 matches Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa from 1888/89 to 1898/99
=5 7 matches Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia from 1884/85 to 1887/88
=5 7 matches Image:England flag.svg England from 1950 to 1950/51
=5 7 matches Image:England flag.svg England from 1985/86 to 1986
=5 7 matches Image:England flag.svg England from 1992 to 1993
=5 7 matches Image:Flag of India.svg India from 1967 to 1967/68
=5 7 matches Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies from 2000 to 2000/01
Source: [7]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Tied Tests

See: Tied Test

Teams Venue Season
Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (453 & 284) tied with Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (505 & 232) Brisbane 1960/61
Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (574-7d & 170-5d) tied with Image:Flag of India.svg India (397 & 347) Chennai 1986/87
Source: [8]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most consecutive Test draws

Rank Draws Team Period
1 10 matches Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies from 1970/71 to 1972/73
=2 9 matches Image:Flag of India.svg India from 1952/53 to 1955/56
=2 9 matches Image:Flag of India.svg India from 1959/60 to 1961/62
=2 9 matches Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand from 1963/64 to 1964/65
=2 9 matches Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan from 1972/73 to 1974/75
Source: [9]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Team scoring records

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Most runs in an innings

Rank Runs Teams Venue Season
1 952-6 d Image:Sri lanka flag large.png Sri Lanka (v India) Colombo 1997
2 903-7 d Image:England flag.svg England (v Australia) The Oval, London 1938
3 849 Image:England flag.svg England (v West Indies) Kingston 1929/30
4 790-3 d Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (v Pakistan) Kingston 1957/58
5 758-8 d Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (v West Indies) Kingston 1954/55
Source: [10]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Fewest runs in an innings

Rank Runs Teams Venue Season
1 26 runs Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand (v England) Auckland 1954/55
=2 30 runs Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (v England) Port Elizabeth 1895/96
=2 30 runs Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (v England) Birmingham 1924
4 35 runs Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (v England) Capetown 1898/99
=5 36 runs Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (v England) Birmingham 1902
=5 36 runs Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa (v Australia) Melbourne 1931/32
Source: [11]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most runs in the fourth innings to win

Rank Runs Teams Venue Season
1 418-7 Image:West Indies Cricket Board Flag.png West Indies (v Australia) St John's 2002/03
2 406-4 Image:Flag of India.svg India (v West Indies) Port of Spain 1975/76
3 404-3 Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (v England) Leeds 1924
4 369-6 Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (v Pakistan) Hobart 1999/2000
5 362-7 Image:Flag of Australia.svg Australia (v West Indies) Georgetown 1977/1978
Source: [12]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Individual records

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Individual records (batting)

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Highest individual score - progression of record

Rank Runs Player Match Venue Season
1 165* Charles Bannerman (AUS)
(in the inaugural Test Match) 		Australia v England Melbourne 1876/77
2 211 Billy Murdoch (AUS) Australia v England The Oval, London 1884
3 287 Tip Foster (ENG) England v Australia Sydney 1903/04
4 325 Andy Sandham (ENG) England v West Indies Kingston 1929/30
5 334 Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) Australia v England Leeds 1930
6 336* Wally Hammond (ENG) England v New Zealand Auckland 1932/33
7 364 Len Hutton (ENG) England v Australia The Oval, London 1938
8 365* Garfield Sobers (WI) West Indies v Pakistan Kingston 1957/58
9 375 Brian Lara (WI) West Indies v England St John's 1993/94
10 380 Matthew Hayden (AUS) Australia v Zimbabwe Perth 2003/04
11 400* Brian Lara (WI) West Indies v England St John's 2003/04
Source: [13]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Highest individual score

Rank Runs Player Match Venue Season
1 400* Brian Lara (WI) West Indies v England St John's 2003/04
2 380 Matthew Hayden (AUS) Australia v Zimbabwe Perth 2003/04
3 375 Brian Lara (WI) West Indies v England St John's 1993/94
4 365* Garfield Sobers (WI) West Indies v Pakistan Kingston 1957/58
5 364 Len Hutton (ENG) England v Australia The Oval, London 1938
Source: [14]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most career runs

Rank Runs Player Period
1 11,174 runs Allan Border (AUS) from 1978 to 1994
2 10,927 runs Steve Waugh (AUS) from 1985 to 2004
3 10,859 runs Brian Lara (WI/ICC) from 1990 to -
4 10,134 runs Sachin Tendulkar (IND) from 1989 to -
5 10,122 runs Sunil Gavaskar (IND) from 1971 to 1987
Source: [15]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Most runs in a series

Rank Runs Player Series
1 974 runs (7 inns.) Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) England v Australia, 1930
2 905 runs (9 inns.) Wally Hammond (ENG) Australia v England, 1928/29
3 839 runs (11 inns.) Mark Taylor (AUS) England v Australia, 1989
4 834 runs (9 inns.) Neil Harvey (AUS) Australia v South Africa, 1952/53
5 829 runs (7 inns.) Viv Richards (WI) England v West Indies, 1976
Source: [16]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Highest career average

Rank Average Player Period
1 99.94 Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) from 1928 to 1948
2 60.97 Graeme Pollock (SA) from 1963 to 1970
3 60.83 George Headley (WI) from 1930 to 1954
4 60.73 Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG) from 1924 to 1935
5 59.23 Eddie Paynter (ENG) from 1931 to 1939
Qualification: 20 innings.

Source: [17]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.

  • Note:If the qualification is removed, the highest career batting average list is topped by Andy Ganteaume, who scored 112 in his one and only Test innings.
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Most Test centuries

Rank Centuries Player Matches
=1 34 centuries Sachin Tendulkar (IND) in 123 matches
=1 34 centuries Sunil Gavaskar (IND) in 125 matches
3 32 centuries Steve Waugh (AUS) in 168 matches
4 30 centuries Brian Lara (WI/ICC) in 118 matches
5 29 centuries Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) in 52 matches
Source: [18]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Individual records (bowling)

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Most career wickets

Rank Wickets Player Matches Average
1 629 wickets Shane Warne (AUS) in 129 matches 25.03
2 568 wickets Muttiah Muralitharan (SL/ICC) in 96 matches 22.23
3 521 wickets Glenn McGrath (AUS) in 113 matches 21.25
4 519 wickets Courtney Walsh (WI) in 132 matches 24.44
5 465 wickets Anil Kumble (IND) in 97 matches 28.38
Source: [19]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Best career average

Rank Average Player Balls Wickets
1 10.75 runs per wicket George Lohmann (ENG) 3,830 112
2 12.70 runs per wicket John Ferris (ENG/AUS) 2,302 61
3 15.54 runs per wicket Billy Barnes (ENG) 2,289 51
4 16.42 runs per wicket Billy Bates (ENG) 2,364 50
5 16.43 runs per wicket Sydney Barnes (ENG) 7,873 189
Qualification: 2000 balls bowled.

Source: [20]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.

  • Note: If the qualification is removed, the best career average record is at 0.00 runs per wicket (ie no runs were conceded). This record is shared by Englishmen Monkey Hornby, who took one wicket without conceding a run in the 28 balls he bowled, Wilf Barber, who took one wicket without conceding a run in the 2 balls he bowled, and New Zealander, Bruce Murray, who took 1 wicket with no runs conceded off 6 balls.
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Most wickets in a series

Rank Wickets Player Series
1 49 wickets (4 Tests) Sydney Barnes (ENG) England v South Africa, 1913/14
2 46 wickets (5 Tests) Jim Laker (ENG) England v Australia, 1956
3 44 wickets (5 Tests) Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) South Africa v Australia, 1935/36
4 42 wickets (6 Tests) Terry Alderman (AUS) England v Australia, 1981
=5 41 wickets (6 Tests) Terry Alderman (AUS) England v Australia, 1989
=5 41 wickets (6 Tests) Rodney Hogg (AUS) Australia v England, 1978/79
Source: [21]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Best figures in an innings

Rank Bowling Player Match Venue Season
1 10-53 Jim Laker (ENG) England v Australia Manchester 1956
2 10-74 Anil Kumble (IND) India v Pakistan Delhi 1998/99
3 9-28 George Lohmann (ENG) England v South Africa Johannesburg 1895/96
4 9-37 Jim Laker (ENG) England v Australia Manchester 1956
5 9-51 Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe Kandy 2001/02
Source: [22]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Best figures in an innings - progression of record

Rank Bowling Player Match Venue Season
1 7-55 Tom Kendall (AUS)
(in the inaugural Test Match) 		Australia v England Melbourne 1876/77
2 7-44 Fred Spofforth (AUS) England v Australia The Oval, London 1882
3 7-28 Billy Bates (ENG) Australia v England Melbourne 1882/83
4 8-35 George Lohmann (ENG) Australia v England Sydney 1886/87
5 8-11 Johnny Briggs (ENG) South Africa v England Cape Town 1888/89
6 8-7 George Lohmann (ENG) South Africa v England Port Elizabeth 1895/96
7 9-28 George Lohmann (ENG) South Africa v England Johannesburg 1895/96
8 10-53 Jim Laker (ENG) England v Australia Manchester 1956
Calculated at the conclusion of each Test. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Best figures in a match

Rank Bowling Player Match Venue Season
1 19-90 Jim Laker (ENG) England v Australia Manchester 1956
2 17-159 Sydney Barnes (ENG) England v South Africa Johannesburg 1913/14
3 16-136 Narendra Hirwani (IND) India v West Indies Chennai 1987/88
4 16-137 Bob Massie (AUS) Australia v England Lord's, London 1972
5 16-220 Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) Sri Lanka v England The Oval, London 1998
Source: [23]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Individual records (fielding)

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Most catches in Test career

Rank Catches Player
1 181 catches Mark Waugh (AUS)
2 157 catches Mark Taylor (AUS)
3 156 catches Allan Border (AUS)
4 148 catches Brian Lara (WI/ICC)
5 140 catches Stephen Fleming (NZ)
Source: [24]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Individual records (wicket-keepers)

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Most catches in Test career

Rank Catches Player
1 366 catches Ian Healy (AUS)
2 343 catches Rod Marsh (AUS)
3 311 catches Mark Boucher (SA/ICC)
4 284 catches Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
5 267 catches Jeff Dujon (WI)
Source: [25]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Most stumpings in Test career

Rank Stumpings Player
1 52 stumpings Bert Oldfield (AUS)
2 46 stumpings Godfrey Evans (ENG)
3 38 stumpings Syed Kirmani (IND)
4 30 stumpings Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
5 29 stumpings Ian Healy (AUS)
Source: [26]. Last updated: 17 October 2005.
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Individual records (other)

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Most matches played

Rank Matches Player Period
1 168 matches Steve Waugh (AUS) from 1985 to 2004
2 156 matches Allan Border (AUS) from 1978 to 1994
3 133 matches Alec Stewart (ENG) from 1990 to 2003
4 132 matches Courtney Walsh (WI) from 1984 to 2001
5 131 matches Kapil Dev (IND) from 1978 to 1994
Source: [27]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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Most matches played as captain

Rank Matches Player Won Lost Drawn Tied
1 93 matches Allan Border (AUS) 32 22 38 1
2 74 matches Clive Lloyd (WI) 36 12 26 0
3 72 matches Stephen Fleming (NZ) 25 24 23 0
4 57 matches Steve Waugh (AUS) 41 9 7 0
5 56 matches Arjuna Ranatunga (SL) 12 19 25 0
Source: [28]. Last updated: 17 August 2005 (UTC).
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Partnership records

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Highest wicket partnerships

Partnership Runs Players Opposition Venue Season
1st wicket 413 Vinoo Mankad & Pankaj Roy (IND) v New Zealand Chennai 1955/56
2nd wicket 576 Sanath Jayasuriya & Roshan Mahanama (SL) v India Colombo 1997/98
3rd wicket 467 Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe (NZ) v Sri Lanka Wellington 1990/91
4th wicket 411 Peter May & Colin Cowdrey (ENG) v West Indies Birmingham 1957
5th wicket 405 Sid Barnes & Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) v England Sydney 1946/47
6th wicket 346 Jack Fingleton & Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) v England Melbourne 1936/37
7th wicket 347 Denis Atkinson & Clairmonte Depeiaza (WI) v Australia Bridgetown 1954/55
8th wicket 313 Wasim Akram & Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) v Zimbabwe Sheikhupura 1996/97
9th wicket 195 Mark Boucher & Pat Symcox (SA) v Pakistan Johannesburg 1997/98
10th wicket 151 Azhar Mahmood & Mushtaq Ahmed (PAK) v South Africa Auckland 1997/98
10th wicket 151 Brian Hastings & Richard Collinge (NZ) v Pakistan Rawalpindi 1972/73
Source: [29]. Last updated: 16 August 2005.
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See also

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References