Brian Lara's 400 Not Out: The Greatest Test Innings Ever
The story of Brian Lara's world record 400 not out against England in 2004 — the preparation, the innings ball by ball, its records, and how it compares to his previous world record of 375.
On April 10–12, 2004, Brian Charles Lara of West Indies scored 400 not out against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground — the highest individual score in Test cricket history. The innings lasted 778 minutes over two days of batting and contained 43 boundaries and four sixes. More remarkably, it was Lara's second time holding the world record: he had previously scored 375 in the same Antigua ground in 1994 against England, a record that stood until Matthew Hayden scored 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.
The Innings
England won the toss and chose to field. Lara came to the crease at 1 for 0 and batted until the West Indies declared at 751 for 5. He was joined by various partners over the course of his innings, building stands worth 114 (Sarwan), 344 (Chanderpaul), and others. England's bowling was not weak: Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, and Ashley Giles all bowled long spells. Lara's batting was not reckless: he paced himself, choosing boundaries selectively, running hard between the wickets. The final tally of 400 came when he pulled a short delivery from Steve Harmison through mid-wicket — a moment he celebrated by sinking to his knees and being mobbed by teammates.
Records Set
- Highest individual innings in Test cricket: 400 not out (previous: Hayden 380).
- Only player to hold the world Test record twice (375 in 1994, 400 in 2004).
- Most runs by one batter in a single day's Test play — 270+ at Antigua.
- The only three innings above 375 in Test cricket are all scored by one man (375 and 400) plus Hayden's 380.
- Set the record in the same ground (Antigua Recreation Ground) where he had set it ten years earlier.
Comparison with His 375
Lara's 375 in 1994 came against a stronger England attack in worse conditions. Many respected analysts consider 375 the more complete innings — made at a younger age, in a tighter match situation, and with fewer opportunities to settle. The 400 was made after West Indies had already built a large total with teammates contributing significant partnerships. But 400 is unique in that no other batter in cricket history has scored more than 380 in a Test innings. Both innings stand alone in Test batting history.
Frequently asked questions
Has anyone ever scored 500 runs in a Test innings?
No Test batter has scored 500 runs in a single innings. Brian Lara's 400 not out is the current world record. In first-class cricket (below Test level), the highest individual score is 501 not out — coincidentally also by Brian Lara, scored for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994, the same year as his Test record 375. Hanif Mohammad scored 499 for Pakistan vs India in 1958-59. No batter in any form of senior cricket has scored 600 runs in one innings.
How long did Brian Lara bat for 400 not out?
Brian Lara batted for 778 minutes (approximately 13 hours) across two days of actual play to reach 400 not out. He faced 582 deliveries — a balls-per-run ratio of roughly 1.45, consistent with a batter who was scoring freely (approximately 41 runs per 100 balls) rather than grinding defensively. The innings spanned portions of Day 2 and Day 3 of the Test match. By contrast, his 375 in 1994 took 766 minutes from 538 balls — marginally more balls but slightly fewer minutes, suggesting similar tempo across both historic innings.
Who was bowling when Brian Lara reached 400?
Brian Lara reached 400 with a pull shot through mid-wicket off Steve Harmison, England's fastest bowler. The ball was short and outside leg stump; Lara rocked back and hit it cleanly through the on side for four. The moment — Lara sinking to his knees with arms outstretched — became one of cricket's most celebrated images. Harmison was the bowler who had also been most hostile to Lara throughout the innings, trying to remove him with a short-pitched strategy. Lara's 400th run coming off the most aggressive England bowler added to the drama.