Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Most runs scored on day 1 of a Test match | List of highest number of runs scored on day 1 of a Test match
It has been a long wait between Test tours of Pakistan for England. After one day, it was worth the wait as Ben Stokes’ team smashed the world record for the most runs scored on day one of a Test.
BazBall was in full effect as England’s batsmen took Pakistan’s hapless bowlers to the cleaners on another flat Rawalpindi pitch. Four England batsmen – namely Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook – hit centuries in one day. Remarkable.
Most runs scored on day 1 in Test cricket
England 506/4 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2022
England’s 506/4 is the highest number of runs scored on a day one of a Test match. Incredibly, play ended 15 overs early due to bad light with Brook (101* off 81 balls) and Ben Stokes (32* off 15 balls) keen to flatten Pakistan’s bowlers even further.
The highest number of runs on any day of Test cricket is 588/6 by England against India at Manchester in 1936. There is little doubt that England would have beaten that in Rawalpindi.
Australia 494/6 vs South Africa, Sydney, 1910
England’s 2022 team broke a 122-year record. The previous best was Australia’s 494/6 against South Africa way back in 1910. Warren Bardsley (132 off 150 balls) and Clem Hill (191 off 200 balls) took South Africa’s bowlers to the cleaners en route a victory by an innings and 114 runs for the hosts.
Australia 482/5 vs South Africa, Adelaide, 2012
Australia again. South Africa again. But, this time is was much more recent. In the game that Faf du Plessis batted a remarkable 376 balls to save the Test on debut, Australia smashed 482 on day one. Michael Clarke led the way with a double century, one of four he struck in a memorable 2012 for the then-Australia skipper.
Australia 475/2 vs England, The Oval, 1934
Speaking of double centuries by Australian captains, the great Sir Don Bradman smashed 244 off 271 balls on a remarkable day at The Oval in 1934. Opener Bill Ponsford also hit a double century (266) off a total of 422 balls. Incredibly, Australia scored 701 and went on to win by a massive 562 runs.
England 471/8 vs India, The Oval, 1936
Two years later, England belted 471/8d in one day against India. The great Wally Hammond hit 217, supported by Stan Worthington’s 128. The hosts went on to win by nine wickets after chasing the small target of 64 with ease.
