Complete list of 5 teams with highest Test scores

Test cricket is known for patience, long innings and incredible batting performances. Unlike limited-overs cricket, Test matches have no fixed number of overs, and each team gets two innings. This gives batters more time to build huge scores and allows teams to create some of the biggest totals in cricket history.

The highest Test team scores are a perfect example of this. Sri Lanka’s 952/6 declared against India remains the highest team total in Test cricket. Such massive scores are rare and usually come after long periods of strong batting, with teams putting pressure on the opposition by staying at the crease for several sessions.

From Sri Lanka’s historic 952/6 against India to England’s recent 823 against Pakistan, this article looks at the five highest Test team scores in cricket history. These remarkable innings show how dominant a batting team can be in the longest format of the game.

5. West Indies – 790/3d vs Pakistan (1958)

West Indies recorded 790/3 declared against Pakistan in the third Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, in 1958. Pakistan batted first and were bowled out for 328 runs in 102 overs, with Imtiaz Ahmed top-scoring with 122 and Wallis Mathias making 77. West Indies then produced a huge batting performance, reaching 790/3 in 208.1 overs before declaring their innings.

Conrad Hunte scored a brilliant 260 runs, while Garry Sobers remained unbeaten on 365 runs, one of the greatest individual innings in Test history. Everton Weekes added 39 and Clyde Walcott finished unbeaten on 88. Sobers and Hunte formed the main partnership that helped West Indies build a massive lead of 462 runs over Pakistan’s first-innings total.

Pakistan struggled again in their second innings and were dismissed for 288 runs in 96.3 overs. Wazir Mohammad scored 106, and Abdul Kardar made 57, but Pakistan could not avoid a heavy defeat. West Indies won the match by an innings and 174 runs.

Brief Scorecard:

• Pakistan 1st innings: 328 all out
• West Indies 1st innings: 790/3 declared
• Pakistan 2nd innings: 288 all out
• Top scorers: Garry Sobers 365*, Conrad Hunte 260
• Result: West Indies won by an innings and 174 runs

4. England – 823/7d vs Pakistan (2024)

England scored 823/7 declared against Pakistan in the first Test at Multan in October 2024. Pakistan batted first and posted a strong 556 runs in 149 overs, with Abdullah Shafique scoring 102, Shan Masood making 151 and Salman Agha remaining unbeaten on 104. England then responded with a massive total of 823/7 declared in 150 overs.

Joe Root played a brilliant innings of 262 runs from 375 balls, while Harry Brook scored a stunning 317 off 322 balls. Brook smashed 29 fours and three sixes, while Ben Duckett added 84 and Zak Crawley scored 78. England's huge total gave them a first-innings lead of 267 runs and put Pakistan under heavy pressure.

Pakistan struggled in their second innings and were bowled out for 220 runs in 54.5 overs. Salman Agha top-scored with 63, while Aamer Jamal remained unbeaten on 55. England won the match by an innings and 47 runs, with Jack Leach taking four wickets in Pakistan’s second innings.

Brief Scorecard:

• Pakistan 1st innings: 556 all out
• England 1st innings: 823/7 declared
• Pakistan 2nd innings: 220 all out
• Top scorers: Harry Brook 317, Joe Root 262
• Result: England won by an innings and 47 runs

3. England – 849 vs West Indies (1930)

England produced one of the highest team scores in Test cricket when they made 849 all out against West Indies in the fourth Test at Kingston in April 1930. After winning the toss, England chose to bat first and spent more than 258 overs at the crease. Andy Sandham was the star with a huge 325, while Les Ames added 149 and George Gunn scored 85. England eventually reached 849 before being bowled out.

West Indies struggled in their first innings and were dismissed for 286, giving England a massive lead of 563 runs. England then batted again and declared at 272/9, setting West Indies a target of 836 runs. The second innings saw George Headley score an outstanding 223, while Karl Nunes made 92, helping West Indies reach 408/5.

The match ended in a draw, with West Indies finishing on 408/5 after 164.3 overs. England's 849 remains one of the biggest Test totals, while Sandham's 325 and Headley's 223 were the standout individual performances.

Brief Scorecard:

• England 1st innings: 849 all out (Andy Sandham 325, Les Ames 149)
• West Indies 1st innings: 286 all out
• England 2nd innings: 272/9 declared
• West Indies 2nd innings: 408/5
• Result: Match drawn

2. England – 903/7d vs Australia (1938)

England recorded a massive 903/7 declared against Australia in the fifth Test at The Oval in August 1938. After winning the toss, England chose to bat and dominated the match from the start. Leonard Hutton produced a remarkable 364, while Maurice Leyland scored 187 and Joe Hardstaff remained unbeaten on 169. England batted for 335.2 overs before declaring at 903/7.

Australia struggled to match England's huge total and were bowled out for 201 in their first innings. Bill Brown top-scored with 69, but Bill Bowes took five wickets for England. Australia were asked to follow on and collapsed again, scoring only 123 in their second innings. Ken Farnes took four wickets, while Bill Bowes and Hedley Verity claimed two each.

England won the match by a massive innings and 579 runs, completing one of the biggest victories in Test history. Hutton's 364 was the highlight of the game, while England's 903/7 remains one of the highest team scores in Test cricket.

Brief Scorecard:

• England 1st innings: 903/7 declared (Leonard Hutton 364, Maurice Leyland 187, Joe Hardstaff 169*)
• Australia 1st innings: 201 all out (Bill Brown 69)
• Australia 2nd innings: 123 all out
• Result: England won by an innings and 579 runs

1. Sri Lanka – 952/6d vs India – 1997

Sri Lanka recorded the highest team total in Test cricket history when they scored 952/6 declared against India in the first Test at Colombo in August 1997. The match ended in a draw after both teams produced huge batting performances.

India batted first and declared on 537/8. Navjot Sidhu scored 111, while Sachin Tendulkar made 143 and Mohammad Azharuddin added 126. Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to stop India's strong batting attack.

Sri Lanka then produced a historic batting display. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 runs, while Roshan Mahanama made 225 and Aravinda de Silva added 126. Sri Lanka reached 952/6 declared in 271 overs, setting the record for the highest team total in Test history.

The match could not produce a result as Sri Lanka declared with a massive lead, but India did not have enough time to complete a second innings. Jayasuriya was named Player of the Match for his brilliant 340 and three wickets.

Brief Scorecard:

• India 1st innings: 537/8 declared (Sachin Tendulkar 143, Mohammad Azharuddin 126, Navjot Sidhu 111)
• Sri Lanka 1st innings: 952/6 declared (Sanath Jayasuriya 340, Roshan Mahanama 225, Aravinda de Silva 126)
• Result: Match drawn