Test cricket is known for testing a batter’s patience, technique and concentration. While scoring a century is a major achievement, crossing 300 runs in a single innings puts a player among the greatest performers in the format. Brian Lara holds the highest individual score in Test cricket with an unbeaten 400 against England in 2004.
Several legendary batters have come close to this record, including Matthew Hayden, Mahela Jayawardene and Wiaan Mulder. Here is the list of the highest individual scores in Test cricket, with the players, teams, years and records that make these innings special.
Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Highest Score | Against | Year |
| 1 | Brian Lara | 400* | England | 2004 |
| 2 | Matthew Hayden | 380 | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| 3 | Brian Lara | 375 | England | 1994 |
| 4 | Mahela Jayawardene | 374 | South Africa | 2006 |
| 5 | Wiaan Mulder | 367* | Zimbabwe | 2025 |
| 6 | Garfield Sobers | 365* | Pakistan | 1958 |
| 7 | Leonard Hutton | 364 | Australia | 1938 |
| 8 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 340 | India | 1997 |
| 9 | Hanif Mohammad | 337 | West Indies | 1958 |
| 10 | Wally Hammond | 336* | New Zealand | 1933 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo Test batting records. The asterisk (*) indicates that the batter remained not out at the end of the innings.
1. Brian Lara: 400 Not Out Against England
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Brian Lara created history in April 2004 when he scored 400 not out for West Indies against England in Antigua. He faced 582 balls and hit 43 fours and four sixes, becoming the first batter to reach 400 runs in a men’s Test innings.
Lara’s record remains unmatched. His ability to maintain concentration over a long innings and keep scoring against international bowlers made this performance one of the greatest achievements in Test cricket.
2. Matthew Hayden: 380 Against Zimbabwe
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Matthew Hayden scored 380 runs for Australia against Zimbabwe in Perth in October 2003. His innings broke Brian Lara’s previous record of 375, making Hayden the highest individual scorer in Test cricket at that time.
Hayden held the record for around six months before Lara reclaimed it. His 380 remains the second highest individual score in men’s Test cricket and a landmark performance in Australian cricket history.
3. Brian Lara: 375 Against England
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Lara first set the world record in April 1994 when he scored 375 against England in Antigua. He surpassed Garfield Sobers’ unbeaten 365, which had stood as the highest Test score since 1958.
This innings established Lara as one of the most accomplished batters of his generation. Ten years later, he returned to the same ground and improved his own record with 400 not out.
4. Mahela Jayawardene: 374 Against South Africa
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Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene scored 374 against South Africa in Colombo in July 2006. His innings helped Sri Lanka build a huge first innings total and placed him fourth on the all time list of highest individual Test scores.
Jayawardene’s performance demonstrated exceptional control and concentration. His 374 remained the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan batter in men’s Test cricket and one of the finest innings in the country’s cricket history.
5. Wiaan Mulder: 367 Not Out Against Zimbabwe
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Wiaan Mulder scored 367 not out for South Africa against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in July 2025. He faced 334 balls, hit 49 fours and four sixes, and set the record for the highest individual Test score by a South African batter.
Mulder declared South Africa’s innings at 626 for five, finishing 33 runs short of Lara’s world record. His decision prioritised the team’s opportunity to bowl Zimbabwe out rather than continuing his personal pursuit of 400.
6. Garfield Sobers: 365 Not Out Against Pakistan
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West Indies legend Garfield Sobers scored 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston in February 1958. At just 21 years old, he surpassed the previous record and became the highest individual scorer in Test cricket at that time.
Sobers held the record for 36 years until Lara scored 375 in 1994. His innings remains a landmark in cricket history and one of the most celebrated performances by a West Indies batter.
7. Leonard Hutton: 364 Against Australia
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England’s Leonard Hutton scored 364 against Australia at The Oval in August 1938. His innings helped England reach 903 for seven declared, which remains one of the most famous team totals in Test cricket history.
Hutton’s record stood for 20 years before Sobers surpassed it in 1958. His performance remains a defining moment in England’s cricket history and an example of extraordinary batting endurance.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya: 340 Against India
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Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 for Sri Lanka against India in Colombo in August 1997. His innings contributed to Sri Lanka’s massive first innings total of 952 for six declared, which remains the highest team total in men’s Test cricket.
Jayasuriya was widely known for his attacking batting in limited overs cricket, but this innings showed his ability to dominate in the longest format too. His 340 remains one of the highest individual scores recorded by a Sri Lankan batter.
9. Hanif Mohammad: 337 Against West Indies
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Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad scored 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown in January 1958. His innings helped Pakistan recover from a difficult position and remains one of the most memorable performances in the early years of Pakistan Test cricket.
Hanif’s 337 was the highest individual Test score by a Pakistani batter at the time. It demonstrated remarkable resilience and patience against a strong West Indies team.
10. Wally Hammond: 336 Not Out Against New Zealand
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England’s Wally Hammond scored 336 not out against New Zealand in Auckland in March 1933. His innings placed him among the leading individual scorers in Test history and helped establish his reputation as one of England’s greatest batters.
Hammond’s unbeaten 336 remained a significant milestone for decades. His name still appears among the top ten highest individual scores in men’s Test cricket, highlighting the lasting importance of his performance.
Who Has the Highest Individual Score in Test Cricket?
Brian Lara of the West Indies holds the record for the highest individual score in men’s Test cricket. He scored 400 not out against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in April 2004. He faced 582 balls and hit 43 fours and four sixes during his historic innings.
Lara became the first batter to score 400 runs in a Test innings, surpassing his own previous record of 375 against England in 1994. His unbeaten 400 remains the highest individual score in men’s Test cricket.
Top 5 Most Runs in a Test Series
| Rank | Player | Runs | Test Series | Year |
| 1 | Don Bradman | 974 | Ashes in England | 1930 |
| 2 | Wally Hammond | 905 | Ashes in Australia | 1928 to 1929 |
| 3 | Mark Taylor | 839 | Ashes in England | 1989 |
| 4 | Neil Harvey | 834 | Australia vs South Africa | 1952 to 1953 |
| 5 | Viv Richards | 829 | West Indies in England | 1976 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo series batting records, also reported by Test Match Stats.
Bradman’s 974 runs remain a remarkable achievement because he scored them in only seven innings. His series included innings of 254 at Lord’s, 334 at Headingley and 232 at The Oval. The record has stood since 1930, despite generations of exceptional batters playing longer Test series.
Which Indian Batter Has the Highest Individual Score in Test Cricket?
Virender Sehwag holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter in men’s Test cricket. His unbeaten or dismissed status aside, his record innings of 319 runs against South Africa in Chennai in March 2008 remains India’s highest Test score by an individual.
- Player: Virender Sehwag
- Highest score: 319 runs
- Opponent: South Africa
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Year: 2008
- Format: Men’s Test cricket
Conclusion
Brian Lara’s 400 not out remains the highest individual score in men’s Test cricket, followed by Matthew Hayden’s 380 and Lara’s earlier 375. Wiaan Mulder’s 367 not out added a modern chapter to the record books, while Virender Sehwag continues to hold India’s individual Test scoring record with 319.
For series batting, Sir Donald Bradman’s 974 runs in the 1930 Ashes remain the benchmark. These records celebrate different skills: one extraordinary innings and sustained excellence across an entire series.
FAQs
1. Who has the highest individual score in Test cricket?
Brian Lara holds the record with 400 not out for West Indies against England in Antigua in April 2004. No batter has surpassed this score in men’s Test cricket.
2. Who scored the highest individual score in Test cricket for India?
Virender Sehwag holds India’s men’s Test record with 319 runs against South Africa in Chennai in 2008. Karun Nair is the other Indian batter to have scored a triple century, with 303 not out against England in 2016.
3. Who scored the highest individual score in a Test series?
Sir Donald Bradman scored 974 runs for Australia in the 1930 Ashes series in England. This remains the highest aggregate by a batter in a men’s Test series.
4. Has anyone scored 400 runs in a Test innings apart from Brian Lara?
No. Brian Lara remains the only batter to have scored 400 runs in a men’s Test innings. Wiaan Mulder came closest among recent players with 367 not out against Zimbabwe in 2025.
5. What is the highest individual score by a South African batter in Test cricket?
Wiaan Mulder holds the record with 367 not out against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in July 2025. His innings surpassed the previous South African record and placed him fifth on the all time men’s Test list.
Related reading
- Highest ODI score by a batsman — the same record in the 50-over format.
- Most international runs for India — career totals rather than single innings.
- Which country has won the most Cricket World Cups — the team honours list.