Highest Individual Score Records in Cricket Explained
The records for the highest individual scores in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket, and the context behind the biggest innings in the sport's history.
Records by Format
| Format | Record Score | Batter | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test cricket | 400* (not out) | Brian Lara | England | 2004 |
| ODI cricket | 264 | Rohit Sharma | Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| T20I cricket | 172* | Aaron Finch | Zimbabwe | 2018 |
| First-class cricket | 501* | Hanif Mohammad | Bahawalpur | 1959 |
Brian Lara's 400 Not Out
Brian Lara's 400 not out for West Indies against England in Antigua in 2004 is the highest score in Test cricket history. Lara batted for 778 minutes across more than 12 hours, facing 582 balls and hitting 43 fours and 4 sixes. It was his second time holding the individual Test record — he had previously scored 375 against England in 1994 before Matthew Hayden took the record with 380 in 2003, only for Lara to reclaim it the following year.
Rohit Sharma's 264 in ODIs
Rohit Sharma scored 264 for India against Sri Lanka in Kolkata in 2014, surpassing his own previous record of 209 from 2013. The innings included 33 fours and 9 sixes from 173 balls. Rohit's three ODI double-centuries — 264, 209, and 264 — make him the only player to have scored more than one 200 in ODI history.
Context Behind Large Individual Scores
Extremely high individual scores almost always occur on flat batting pitches with exhausted or under-strength bowling attacks. Lara's 400 came on a Antigua pitch famous for its flatness. Rohit's 264 came against a weakened Sri Lankan bowling attack on a ground where the short boundaries suit maximised six-hitting. The physical and mental endurance required to bat across these innings is as remarkable as the scores themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest score in first-class cricket?
Hanif Mohammad scored 501 not out for Karachi against Bahawalpur in 1959. His innings is the highest individual score in any form of cricket above the international level. He batted for over 16 hours. Matthew Hayden famously scored 380 in Tests, which he held briefly before Lara's 400.
Has any batter scored 500 in international cricket?
No. Brian Lara's 400* remains the Test record. In all international formats (including women's cricket), no batter has reached 500 in an international match.