Highest Individual Test Scores in Cricket History
From Brian Lara's 400* to Hanif Mohammad's marathon 337, discover the greatest individual Test batting performances and the records that have stood for decades.
The All-Time Record: Brian Lara 400*
Brian Lara scored 400 not out for West Indies against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in April 2004 — the highest individual score in Test cricket history. He batted for 778 minutes (nearly 13 hours), faced 582 balls, and hit 43 fours and 4 sixes. The innings was Lara's second world record — he had previously scored 375* against England in 1994, only for Matthew Hayden to take the record (380) in 2003 before Lara reclaimed it.
The Second Highest: Matthew Hayden 380
Matthew Hayden's 380 for Australia against Zimbabwe at the WACA in October 2003 held the world record for just 6 months before Lara's 400*. Hayden batted for 622 minutes, faced 437 balls, and hit 38 fours and 11 sixes — his 11 sixes was a then-record for Test innings. The match was against Zimbabwe, a weaker opponent, which has led some to discount the achievement, though the Laws of cricket recognise it fully.
Don Bradman's 334
Don Bradman's 334 for Australia against England at Headingley in 1930 — made in his first full Ashes series — was then the world record and remains one of the most famous Test innings ever played. Bradman arrived at the wicket at 1/1 and compiled the innings at a rate that left the England attack bewildered. He scored 105* before lunch on the first day — a rate considered impossible against Test bowling at the time.
Len Hutton's 364 and Hanif Mohammad's Marathon
Len Hutton's 364 for England against Australia at The Oval in 1938 was the world record for 19 years. Hanif Mohammad's 337 for Pakistan against West Indies in 1957–58 came in a marathon innings of 970 minutes (16 hours and 10 minutes) — the longest innings in Test history by time. Hanif saved Pakistan from defeat, and the innings remains a testament to concentration and physical endurance.
Highest Test Scores Summary
1st: Brian Lara 400* (WI vs ENG, Antigua, 2004); 2nd: Matthew Hayden 380 (AUS vs ZIM, Perth, 2003); 3rd: Brian Lara 375* (WI vs ENG, Antigua, 1994); 4th: Len Hutton 364 (ENG vs AUS, Oval, 1938); 5th: Don Bradman 334 (AUS vs ENG, Headingley, 1930)
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest individual score in Test cricket?
Brian Lara's 400* for West Indies against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in 2004 is the highest individual score in Test cricket history.
Who held the Test record before Brian Lara?
Matthew Hayden held the record briefly with 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003, before Lara reclaimed it with 400* in 2004. Before Hayden, Lara himself held the record with 375* from 1994.
What is the longest innings in Test history?
Hanif Mohammad's 337 for Pakistan against West Indies in 1957–58 lasted 970 minutes (over 16 hours) — the longest innings by time in Test cricket history.