Highest Team Scores in Cricket: Test, ODI and T20 Records
A complete guide to the highest team totals in Test cricket (952/6d), ODIs (481/6), and T20Is (314/3) — which teams set them, against whom, and the conditions that produced these record-breaking innings.
Cricket's highest team scores represent the game's most extraordinary batting performances. From Sri Lanka's 952 for 6 declared in Tests to Australia's 481 for 6 in ODIs, these totals required remarkable individual performances and favourable conditions. Examining these records reveals as much about the state of cricket at the time as about the teams themselves.
Highest Test Score — Sri Lanka's 952/6d
Sri Lanka scored 952 for 6 declared against India in Colombo in August 1997 — the highest innings total in Test history. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225, posting a world record partnership of 576 for the second wicket. India were dismissed twice and Sri Lanka won by an innings and 239 runs in a match that thoroughly exposed the gulf between the teams at that time.
Highest ODI Score — England's 481/6
England set the all-time ODI record of 481 for 6 against Australia at Trent Bridge in June 2018. Alex Hales (147) and Joe Root (90) provided the backbone while Eoin Morgan hit 7 sixes. The score bettered Australia's previous record of 434 set against South Africa. It was a consequence of shorter boundaries, flat pitches, and the evolution of batting techniques that have transformed limited-overs scoring.
Highest T20I Score — Nepal's 314/3
Nepal scored 314 for 3 against Mongolia in an ICC Asia region qualifier in 2023 — the highest ever T20I total. While the match was an extraordinary mismatch, the score illustrates how T20 batting has evolved, with power-hitting techniques capable of producing totals in the 300s even if the opposition is limited. Nepal featured explosive batsmen capable of clearing the boundary at will.
Highest Test Chases
- 418/7 — West Indies vs Australia, St John's 2003 (highest successful chase)
- 414/4 — South Africa vs Australia, Perth 2008
- 406/4 — India vs West Indies, Port of Spain 1976
- 395/7 — New Zealand vs England, Hamilton 2019
- 362/9 — Australia vs England, Leeds 2001
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest innings total in Test cricket?
Sri Lanka scored 952 for 6 declared against India in Colombo in 1997 — the highest innings total in Test cricket history. Sanath Jayasuriya made 340 and Roshan Mahanama 225.
What is the highest ODI score ever?
England scored 481 for 6 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018 — the highest total in ODI cricket history. Alex Hales made 147 and Joe Root 90.
What is the highest successful Test run chase?
West Indies chased down 418 for 7 against Australia in St John's in 2003 — the highest ever successful Test run chase, led by Brian Lara's unbeaten 60 at the end.