Brian Lara: 400 Not Out and World Record Scores Explained
Brian Lara holds the world record for the highest individual Test score (400 not out vs England, 2004) and the highest first-class score (501 not out for Warwickshire, 1994). Learn how Lara set and reclaimed the Test record twice and why these innings remain the benchmark for batting genius.
Brian Lara holds three of cricket's most remarkable individual records: the highest score in Test cricket history (400 not out), the highest score in first-class cricket (501 not out), and the distinction of holding the Test record twice — losing it to Matthew Hayden in 2003 and reclaiming it from Hayden in 2004. No other cricketer has held the individual Test record, lost it, and won it back.
375 at Antigua: The First Record (1994)
On 17 April 1994 in Antigua, Brian Lara passed Gary Sobers's world record of 365 not out — which had stood for 36 years — to score 375 against England. Lara batted for 766 minutes and faced 538 balls. The innings came in the fifth Test with the series level at 1-1. His innings is still regarded as one of the finest Test innings ever played for its combination of concentration, creativity, and duration.
501 Not Out for Warwickshire (1994)
Just two months after his Test record, Lara scored 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in a County Championship match — the highest score ever recorded in first-class cricket. The innings lasted 474 minutes and included 62 fours and 10 sixes. Lara was deliberately left not out at close of play on day two and continued the following morning. The record remains in place over 30 years later.
501* for Warwickshire, June 1994
Warwickshire vs Durham, Edgbaston. Lara: 501 not out off 427 balls, 62 fours, 10 sixes. Warwickshire declared on 810/4 dec. First-class cricket's all-time highest individual score.
400 Not Out: Reclaiming the Record (2004)
In April 2003, Matthew Hayden scored 380 against Zimbabwe, breaking Lara's Test record of 375. Exactly ten years after his first record innings, Brian Lara played another Test in Antigua against England. He scored 400 not out — the only Test score above 400 in history — to reclaim the world record. The innings lasted 778 minutes and 582 balls. West Indies declared with Lara still unbeaten.
| Innings | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test record (first) | 375 | England | Antigua | 1994 |
| First-class record | 501* | Durham | Edgbaston | 1994 |
| Test record (reclaimed) | 400* | England | Antigua | 2004 |
Career and Legacy
Lara played 131 Tests for West Indies between 1990 and 2007, scoring 11953 runs at an average of 52.88 with 34 centuries. He captained West Indies through a difficult transition period as Caribbean cricket declined from the dominant force of the 1980s. His greatness was individual rather than collective — he held his team together through many defeats with innings of extraordinary quality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest score in Test cricket?
Brian Lara holds the record for the highest score in Test cricket with 400 not out, scored for West Indies against England in Antigua in April 2004.
What is the highest first-class cricket score?
Brian Lara holds the record for the highest first-class cricket score with 501 not out, scored for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in June 1994.
How many times did Brian Lara hold the Test batting record?
Brian Lara held the Test record twice — 375 in 1994 and 400 in 2004 — after Matthew Hayden briefly held it with 380 in 2003.