Between England’s last two Test tours to Pakistan, a significant time has passed. It was worth the wait after one day, as Ben Stokes’ team broke the world record for the most runs scored on the first day of a test match.
On yet another flat Rawalpindi field, BazBall was in full swing as England’s batters ripped Pakistan’s defenseless bowlers to shreds. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook were the four England batters to score hundreds in a single day. Remarkable.
Most runs scored on day 1 in Test cricket
1. England 506/4 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2022
The most recent record-breaking opening-day score is presently held by England, and it occurred in the opening match of their three-test tour of Pakistan in 2022. The day’s play began with England electing to bat first after winning the toss, scoring more than 6 runs per over. At day’s end, they had amassed a staggering 506/4 in 75 overs with the help of four centurions. Harry Brook (101*), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108), and Zak Crawley (122), all registered century.
2. Australia 494/6 vs South Africa, Sydney, 1910
A 122-year record was broken by the English team in 2022. Australia’s 494/6 versus South Africa in 1910 was the previous record-breaking performance. In order to help the hosts win by an innings and 114 runs, Warren Bardsley (132 off 150 balls) and Clem Hill (191 off 200 balls) ran through the South African bowlers like they were made of paper.
3. Australia 482/5 vs South Africa, Adelaide, 2012
again in Australia. South Africa once more. This time, however, it was considerably more recent. Australia scored 482 runs on day one of the matches in which Faf du Plessis batted admirably for 376 balls to win the Test on his debut. With a double century, one of four he scored in 2012, then-Australian captain Michael Clarke set the tone.
4. Australia 475/2 vs England, The Oval, 1934
Speaking of Australian captains scoring two centuries, the legendary Sir Don Bradman had a memorable day at The Oval in 1934 when he hit 244 off 271 balls. Bill Ponsford, the opener, also scored a double century (266) off 422 balls. Amazingly, Australia scored 701 runs and won by a huge margin of 562 runs.
5. England 471/8 vs India, The Oval, 1936
Two years later, England crushed India by 471/8d in a single day. The legendary Wally Hammond scored 217 and Stan Worthington contributed 128. The hosts easily chased down the modest mark of 64 and went on to win by nine wickets.
List of Top 10 Highest Innings Total after Day 1 in a Test Match
| Team | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 506/4 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 1 Dec 2022 |
| Australia | 494/6 | South Africa | Sydney | 9 Dec 1910 |
| Australia | 482/5 | South Africa | Adelaide | 22 Nov 2012 |
| Australia | 475/2 | England | The Oval | 18 Aug 1934 |
| England | 471/8 | India | The Oval | 15 Aug 1936 |
| Australia | 464/10 | South Africa | Manchester | 27 May 1912 |
| England | 458/3 | Australia | Sydney | 14 Feb 1969 |
| New Zealand | 452/9 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 7 Aug 2005 |
| Australia | 450 all out | South Africa | Johannesburg | 12 Nov 1921 |
| Sri Lanka | 449/7 | Bangladesh | Colombo (PSS) | 20 Sep 2005 |
FAQS
Who scored the most runs in one day of a Test match?
The 506 runs scored by England on the first day of the Test match set a new record for the most runs ever scored on the first day of a Test match. They outperformed the 494 runs scored by Australia in the first Test of the series in Sydney against South Africa in 1910. Australia followed with a score of 494/6.
Who scored 500 runs in Test cricket?
On the opening day of a Test match on Thursday, England becomes Pakistan in Rawalpindi the first team to reach 500 runs.
Who scored the highest 401 in the Test match?
The best score in Test cricket and the only instance of a Test quadruple century was Lara’s 400 not out against England in 2004. It was his second Test triple-century.
Which team is No 1 in the Test match?
According to the most recent Test rankings released by the ICC on September 21, 2022, Australia is rated first overall with a rating of 128. With a score of 114, India comes in second.
Who scored fastest 9000 runs in test cricket?
At the time, Jayawardene was the face of Sri Lankan cricket and a major contributor to their overall success. At Colombo Stadium in August 1997, he played his first test against India. His 9000th career run came in the 178th inning.