Test cricket has always been the ultimate format—where patience, skill, and mental resilience are pushed to the limit. Across the decades, a handful of batters have produced timeless innings that didn’t just entertain but also etched their names in the annals of the sport. From marathon knocks under the sun to rapid triple centuries, here are the Top 10 Individual Test scores in cricket history, now updated with Wiaan Mulder’s stunning 367*.
1. Brian Lara – 400* vs England (2004)
- Venue: Antigua
- Team: West Indies
- Runs: 400* (582 balls, 43 fours, 4 sixes)
Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 remains unmatched in the world of Test cricket. Coming against England in Antigua, this record-breaking effort reclaimed his crown from Matthew Hayden. A combination of class, flair, and unbreakable focus made this a once-in-a-lifetime innings. While many fans today often look up stats like the highest individual ODI score or the highest score in ODI individual records, Lara’s Test record stands tall in its own right.
2. Matthew Hayden – 380 vs Zimbabwe (2003)
- Venue: Perth
- Team: Australia
- Runs: 380 (437 balls, 38 fours, 11 sixes)
Hayden bulldozed the Zimbabwean bowling attack with pure power and aggression, taking just two days to score the then-record 380. His dominance was on full display at the pace-friendly WACA. Just as Hayden dominated Tests, ODI fans often compare such feats with the highest individual score in ODI cricket, a category where legends like Rohit Sharma lead the charts.
3. Brian Lara – 375 vs England (1994)
- Venue: Antigua
- Team: West Indie
- Runs: 375 (538 balls)
Before his 400, Lara already held the record with this marathon effort. Against a tough England side, his artistry and style kept fans glued for over 13 hours of batting brilliance. Even today, discussions around the ODI highest score individual often get compared to Lara’s Test exploits.
4. Mahela Jayawardene – 374 vs South Africa (2006)
- Venue: Colombo
- Team: Sri Lanka
- Runs: 374 (572 balls)
Jayawardene’s 374 was a technical masterclass. Along with Sangakkara, he formed a 624-run partnership—still the highest in Test history. He punished the South African bowlers with patience and precision. Similarly, in one-day cricket, partnerships and milestones are highlighted alongside records like the individual highest score in ODI history.
5. Wiaan Mulder – 367* vs Zimbabwe (2025)
- Venue: Bulawayo
- Team: South Africa
- Runs: 367* (334 balls, 49 fours, 4 sixes)
In one of the most dramatic and talked-about modern innings, South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder rewrote history. Playing as debut Test captain, Mulder smashed 367 not out in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe. His 300 came off just 297 balls, making it the second-fastest triple century in Test cricket history.
What made this innings even more remarkable was his decision to declare while closing in on Brian Lara’s 400. “Some records are sacred,” he said. Nonetheless, Mulder’s knock is now the highest Test score by a South African, surpassing Amla’s 311*, and among the top 5 all-time globally. In ODIs too, fans admire batters who chase milestones like the highest one day individual score and the highest individual scores in ODI.
6. Garry Sobers – 365* vs Pakistan (1958)
- Venue: Kingston
- Team: West Indies
- Runs: 365* (580 balls)
At just 21, Sobers played a majestic innings that stood atop the Test records for 36 years. Graceful and flawless, this triple century turned him into a legend overnight. ODI history, on the other hand, often highlights players achieving the most individual score in ODI, creating their own form of immortality.
7. Len Hutton – 364 vs Australia (1938)
- Venue: The Oval
- Team: England
- Runs: 364 (847 balls)
Facing a mighty Australian team, Hutton batted for 13 hours in a timeless Test. His concentration and shot selection under pressure made this a defining knock in Ashes history.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya – 340 vs India (1997)
- Venue: Colombo
- Team: Sri Lanka
- Runs: 340 (578 balls)
Known for his aggressive one-day style, Jayasuriya showed his ability to anchor innings too. His 340 was part of Sri Lanka’s world-record 952/6 declared—the highest-ever team total in Tests. Fittingly, Jayasuriya also played a huge role in shaping ODI batting, paving the way for records like the individual highest score in ODI to be broken by modern players.
9. Hanif Mohammad – 337 vs West Indies (1958)
- Venue: Bridgetown
- Team: Pakistan
- Runs: 337 (970 minutes)
Possibly the greatest defensive innings ever played, Hanif batted for over 16 hours to save a match after being forced to follow on. It remains the longest innings in Test history.
10. Wally Hammond – 336* vs New Zealand (1933)
- Venue: Auckland
- Team: England
- Runs: 336* (318 balls)
Wally Hammond’s explosive knock helped England dominate New Zealand, with a strike rate of over 100 in that era—a stunning feat for the time.
Final Thoughts
The greatness of these innings lies not just in numbers but in their context, endurance, and timing. From Lara’s twin records to Mulder’s bold declaration just 33 runs short of history, each of these knocks is a chapter in cricket’s grand story. While Test cricket celebrates epic batting marathons, limited-overs fans cherish milestones like the highest individual ODI score, the highest one day individual score, and the most individual score in ODI records. Wiaan Mulder’s 367* is a reminder that Test cricket is still alive and evolving, with new heroes emerging in the modern age—just as ODIs continue to see batters push for the highest score in ODI individual and the odi highest score individual records.
FAQs
Q1. Who has the highest individual Test score?
Brian Lara – 400* vs England (2004)
Q2. Who scored the highest Test score for South Africa?
Wiaan Mulder – 367* vs Zimbabwe (2025)
Q3. Did Wiaan Mulder break Lara’s record?
No. He declared on 367*, out of respect for Lara’s 400* record.
