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Cricket News: List of highest successful run chases by Australia in Tests | What is the highest successful run chase by Australia?

Australia require 384 to win the fifth and final 2023 Ashes Test at The Oval. If the visitors pull it off, not only will they win their first Test series in England since 2001, but it will be one of their highest-ever successful chases in history.

Also, if Pat Cummins’ team reaches the target, it will be Australia’s highest successful run chase since 1999 and second-highest in history.

Below is a look at Australia’s top run chases.

Highest successful run chases by Australia in Test cricket

1. 404/3, vs England, 1948

Australia’s highest successful run-chase in Test cricket came all the way back in July, 1948. It was against arch-rivals England where Australia chased down a mammoth 404 in the fourth innings.

England won the toss and decided to bat first at Headingley. The hosts racked up almost 500 runs in the first innings. Opener Cyril Washbrook and number three William Edrich scored 143 and 111 respectively. Opener Leonard Hutton scored 81.

Australia covered majority of the deficit, scoring 458 in their first innings, courtesy of Neil Harvey’s ton and Samuel Loxton’s 93. England then declared on 365-8 in the third innings of the game after each of their top four batters chipped in with half centuries.

With a mountain to climb, opener Arthur Morris and the legendary Sir Don Bradman stepped up for the Australians. The former scored a scintillating 182 while Sir Don Bradman remained unbeaten on 173 to pull off a spectacular 404-run chase. It was, at the time, the highest run-chase in Test history, and remained so for the next 55 years before West Indies bettered the record by chasing 418 against Australia in 2003.

2. 369/6, vs Pakistan, 1999

The second-highest successful run-chase for Australia in Test cricket came at home in November, 1999.

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan failed to display any sort of stability as they lost wickets at regular intervals. No one went past the 30-run mark barring Mohammad Wasim, who was dismissed nine runs short of a fighting ton.

But, Pakistan fought to keep Australia to 246, trailing by 24 on the first innings. They then scored 392 in their second innings, thanks to an Inzamam-ul-Haq century. The stylish opener Saeed Anwer laid the platform, scoring 78, while Ijaz Ahmed scored 82 batting at number five.

Chasing 369, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist scored tremendous centuries that won the game. Langer was awarded the Player of the Match award for scoring 59 in the first innings and then 127 in the fourth innings of the game.

3. 362/7, vs West Indies, 1978

Australia chased down 359 against the West Indies in Guyana in March, 1978. The home side scored just 205 runs in the first innings, with opener Alvin Greenidge and number seven batter Sew Shivnarine combining to score 109 of them.

Australia then found themselves in a spot of bother when they lost half of their side with a deficit of 115. However, Bob Simpson and Steve Rixon scored fifties down the order to pull things back.

West Indies had a lead of 81 when they began their second innings, and they capitalized on the opportunity as they scored a whopping 439 runs. Alvadon Williams and Larry Gomes scored tons, while Derek Parry and Sew Shivnarine got fifties.

With 359 to get, Australia lost three early wickets, putting the hosts in the driver’s seat. However, opener Graeme Wood and number five batter Craig Serjeant scored 126 and 124 respectively to inspire a brilliant comeback.

4. 342/8, vs India, 1977

Chetandra Chauhan’s 88 and Mohinder Amarnath’s 90, along with some handy 30 oand 40-run cameos from Gundappa Viswanath, Dillip Vengsarkar, Syed Kirmani, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Madan Lal guided India to a healthy first-inning score of 402.

In response, Bob Simpson scored a destructive 176, but Australia were bowled out for 394 in the first innings. Mohinder Amarnath, after missing out on a ton in the first innings, managed to score a hundred in India’s second innings. Sunil Gavaskar scored 127 runs and led India to a good total.

Chasing 339, Australia’s Anthony Mann bagged a hundred. Peter Toohey’s 83 and then Steve Rixon’s vital 23 lower down the order pushed Australia over the line in Perth.

5. 336/5, vs South Africa, 1950

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in Durban. Eric Rowan, opening the innings, scored 143. He was supported by Dudley Nourse’s 66 to eventually push the home side’s total to 311.

An extraordinary passage of play followed. Australia were bowled out for just 75. Barring the openers and number 10 batter Samuel Loxton, a string of single-digit scores filled the scorecard.

With a lead of 236, South Africa completely let go of the opportunity to post a huge target as they were bundled out for just 99. Neil Harvey scored a magnificent unbeaten 151 chasing 336, as Australia pulled off a proper heist.