Last Updated on 5 months by Charbel Coorey

Highest first innings scores to end in an innings defeat: With Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102) making merry on a flat Multan surface, not many could have predicted what would happen next. Pakistan lost the first Test against England by innings despite hitting 556 in their first innings.

England responded with 823/7d, their third-highest Test score. Harry Brook hit the fifth-highest individual score by an England player in Tests, with his 317 flattening the hosts. He combined with the great Joe Root (262) in a record 454-run stand to take the visitors from 249/3 to 703/4.

With England taking a lead of 267, the question is – has a team ever lost a Test match by an innings after scoring 500-plus?

List of highest first innings score to end in an innings defeat

4. 432 by England against Australia, The Oval, 2001

England reponded to Australia’s mamoth 641/4d with a respectable 432 at The Oval in 2001. Because of rain on the fourth day, Australia enforced the follow on to push for victory and seal a 4-1 series win.

Thanks to the late, great Shane Warne and magnificent Glenn McGrath, they did. The legendary legspinner took 4/64 in the second innings after his 7/165 in the first to finish man of the match. McGrath, who toiled for 30 overs in the first dig, took 5/43 in the second.

3. 477 by England against India, Chennai, 2016

England again. This time against India in 2016, known as the match of Karun Nair.

After hitting 477 batting first, England barely had a sniff. KL Rahul (199) and Parthiv Patel (71) struck 152 for the first wicket. But, after Virat Kohli was dismissed, the match was even with India 211/3. But, that’s where England’s joy ended.

Karun Nair played the innings of his life, turning his first Test century into a triple. He took England’s attack apart in his 381-ball stay, finishing 303*.

In response, England were bowled out for 207 in 88 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was at his very best, taking 7/48 in 25 overs to seal a 4-0 series win in the five-match series.

2. 492 by Ireland against Sri Lanka, Galle, 2023

Hitting 492 batting first at Galle usually means you’re in the driving seat. Unfortunately for Ireland, Sri Lanka’s top four went on a rampage in response. Nishan Madushka (205) and Kusal Mendis (245*) hit double centuries along with tons for Dimuth Karunaratne (115) and Angelo Mathews (100*) as the hosts piled on 704/3d.

Ireland tried hard in their second innings, but couldn’t get enough to get Sri Lanka batting again. Ramesh Mendis took 5/64, with strong support from Prabath Jayasuriya (2/88 off 32 overs) and Asitha Fernando (3/30) to bowl the Irish out for 202 in 77.3 overs to seal victory by an innings and 10 runs.

1. 556 by Pakistan and England, Multan, 2024

Pakistan became the first team in history to suffer an innings defeat after hitting 500+ in the first dig. It is quite remarkable to even think of it.

Shan Masood’s team completely capitulated in the second innings, bowled out for just 220 on what was still a very flat pitch on day five. The hastening loss was their sixth-straight in Test cricket, with another third innings collapse following on from their 2-0 loss to Bangladesh soon before.