Most Runs In Test Cricket In A Day
England features the most times in this coveted list
Cricket has witnessed numerous record-breaking performances that have enthralled fans worldwide. Among these, the feat of scoring the most runs in a single day of a Test match stands out as proof of immense concentration and sheer batting brilliance.
These are days that are etched in memory not just for the outcomes of the matches, but for the extraordinary feats of scoring that redefine the limits of the game.
Notably, even with the emergence of T20 cricket, which has accelerated the pace of the game and shifted strategies towards more aggressive batting, there remains only one instance from the recent era that features in the top five most runs scored in Tests by one team in a day.
1. England vs India - 588/6, July 1936
On a sweltering July day in 1936, the cricketing world witnessed an unprecedented deluge of runs at Old Trafford, Manchester.
In the second Test of a three-match series against India, England turned the game into a veritable run-fest. After beginning the day comfortably, England piled on a massive 398 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Their Indian counterparts were not to be outdone and took to the pitch with gusto, racing to 190 without loss by the close of play.
The game, swelling with 588 runs in a single day, concluded in a draw but remains etched in history where most runs were scored in a single day.
2. England vs South Africa - 522/2, June 1924
Rewinding to June 1924, the cricket pitch at Lord’s became a stage for another extraordinary display of batting, this time in a match between England and South Africa.
After skittling out the South Africans for 273, England began the second day on a modest 28 without loss. What followed was nothing short of spectacular, as England’s batsmen, led by Jack Hobbs with a magnificent double century (211), took command. Herbert Sutcliffe (122) and Frank Woolley (134*) also joined the run spree, each notching up centuries.
By the end of the day, England had declared at 531 for 2, having added a mammoth 503 runs. South Africa, somewhat shell-shocked, ended the day at 19 for no loss.
The day’s total stood at a staggering 522 runs for the loss of just two wickets, a day when the English batsmen held the reins tight and galloped their way into the history books, eventually securing victory by an innings and 18 runs.
3. Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - 509/9, July 2002
Aravinda de Silva scored 206 in the Colombo Test (x.com)
Fast forward to July 2002 in Colombo, where Sri Lanka, after dispatching Bangladesh for a paltry 161, ended the first day on 32 without loss.
The following day, the Lankan bats unleashed a torrent of runs. By the time they declared at 541 for 9, a breathtaking 509 runs had been scored in just one day.
The onslaught was led by a series of powerful knocks by Aravinda de Silva (206) and captain Sanath Jayasuriya (145) that decimated the Bangladeshi bowling attack, setting the stage for an inevitable Sri Lankan victory.
The hosts promptly bundled out Bangladesh for 184 in their second innings, cruising to a win by an innings and 196 runs
4. England vs South Africa - 508/8, August 1935
Another day that stands out occurred on August 17, 1935, at The Oval, during the fifth Test of the series between England and South Africa.
Starting the third day in a strong position, England’s batsmen turned the screws on the South African bowlers. The hosts resumed Day 3 at 313/4 and added 221 runs before declaring at 534/6 as Wally Hammond scored 161 and Maurice Leyland smashed 148.
The day saw the scoreboard ticking relentlessly as South Africa scored 287/6 and the match ended in a draw but not before 508 runs were scored in the day.
5. England vs Pakistan - 506/4, December 2022
Harry Brook batting in Rawalpindi Test vs PAK (x.com)
In a more recent encounter that reflects the changing dynamics of modern Test cricket, influenced undoubtedly by the shorter formats of the game and their ‘Bazball’ approach, Pakistan faced England at Rawalpindi in December 2022.
On the first day of the Test, England batsmen unleashed a fury of runs, racking up 506 for the loss of just four wickets. Notably, these runs were scored in just 75 overs before play was called off.
Zak Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107) and Ollie Pope (104) and Harry Brook (153) smacked breathtaking centuries as England finished the day at a staggering 506/4.
This modern-day spectacle was proof of how aggressive batting styles, often seen in T20 matches, have permeated the Test arena, showing that the art of rapid run accumulation is not confined to limited-overs cricket.
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