Last Wicket Stand in Cricket: When the Tail Fights to the End
A last wicket stand in cricket is the partnership between the 10th and 11th batters, sometimes producing match-saving or match-winning runs from the most unlikely pair.
What Is a Last Wicket Stand?
A last wicket stand is the partnership formed between the 10th and 11th (last) batters in a cricket innings. With all specialist batters out, the team relies on their last two batters — often tail-enders with minimal batting skill — to add as many runs as possible before the innings ends.
Why Last Wicket Stands Matter
- A 50-run last-wicket stand can turn a competitive total into a winning one
- In Test cricket, a last-wicket stand can save a match from the jaws of defeat
- They put pressure on the fielding team to take the final wicket quickly
- Famous last-wicket stands have become part of cricket folklore
Record Last Wicket Partnerships
| Runs | Partners | Match | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 163 | Wasim Akram & Saqlain Mushtaq | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | 1996 |
| 151 | Azhar Mahmood & Mushtaq Ahmed | Pakistan vs South Africa | 1997 |
| 128 | Joe Root & James Anderson | England vs India | 2014 |
Tactics for the Last Wicket Stand
The established batter in a last wicket stand usually tries to retain as much of the strike as possible, protecting the tail-ender from facing quality deliveries. The tail-ender's role is to survive at one end and let the established batter score from the other.
Frequently asked questions
What is a last wicket stand in cricket?
A last wicket stand is the partnership between the 10th and 11th batters in an innings, the final batting pair.
What is the record last wicket partnership in Tests?
The record is 163 by Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in 1996.
How does a team manage a last wicket stand?
The established batter tries to retain the strike while the tail-ender defends, minimising the risk of a cheap dismissal.