In the game of Test cricket, advanced partnerships are very instrumental in defining the fate of a match, especially if dire situations face the teams. Coming to all partnerships, the 4th wicket is usually that which rebuilds the innings after the early loss of wickets. Through the years, we have been treated to some really mesmerizing 4th wicket partnerships which rewrote history in cricket. These partnerships just did not rescue teams but also placed world records, which are etched in the memory of cricket.
The latest record partnership to top this elite list is the recent record-breaking 454-run partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook during the Pakistan vs England Test series in Multan in October of 2024 that shred records and outperformed earlier milestones. Here is a list of the top five highest 4th wicket partnerships.
Top 5 Highest 4th Wicket Partnerships in Test Cricket History
Here is the list of the top 5 highest 4th wicket partnerships in Test cricket.
| Date | Team | Partners | Runs | Vs | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 2024 | England | Joe Root, Harry Brook | 454 | PAK | Multan |
| 10 Dec 2015 | Australia | Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh | 449 | WI | Hobart |
| 21 Feb 2009 | Sri Lanka | Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera | 437 | PAK | Karachi |
| 30 May 1957 | England | Peter May, Colin Cowdrey | 411 | WI | Birmingham |
| 6 Jan 1960 | WI | Garry Sobers, Frank Worrell | 399 | ENG | Bridgetown |
1. Joe Root, Harry Brook – 454
A mammoth partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook broke the records and left Pakistan in shock. In the ongoing Pakistan vs England bilateral Test series, Root and Brook bagged a record-breaking highest 4th wicket partnership of 454 runs at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
On Day 4, England finished their 1st innings and posted 823 runs, thanks to Harry Brook and Joe Root’s contribution of 454 runs which is the highest 4th partnership in test cricket history. Former skipper Joe Root went on a rampage and amassed 262 runs with a 69.87 strike rate. On the other hand, Harry Brook broke Virendra Sehwag’s two-decade-old record and smashed a triple century of 317 with a strike rate of 98.45 including 29 boundaries and 3 maximums. Brook became the first Englishman to reach 300 in 34 years of Cricket history.
2. Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh – 449
In 2015, Aussie batters Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh both recorded 449 runs for the 4th wicket partnership against West Indies at Hobart. Australia posted 583 runs on day 5 and won by 212 runs. Where Adam Voges scored 269 runs with a strike rate of 94.38 including 33 boundaries. On the other side, Shaun Marsh bagged 182 with a strike rate of 68.42 including 15 4s and one 6s. Voges-Marsh’s 4th wicket partnership was the highest until Brook-Root decided to break it down.
3. Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera – 437
Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera’s partnership of 437 is the 3rd highest 4th-wicket partnership in Test cricket. In the 2009 Sri Lanka Tour of Pakistan, Jayawardene and Samaraweera helped the squad by posting 644 runs on day 7. However, the match of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan was drawn but both Sri Lankan batters recorded a history. Samaraweera bagged 231 runs with a 72.64 strike rate while Jayawardene posted 240 runs with a strike rate of 56.60 including 32 boundaries.
4. Peter May, Colin Cowdrey – 411
Again we have English batters Peter May and Colin Cowdrey posted a 411-run partnership for the 4th wicket against West Indies. On day 4, Peter bagged 285 runs and Colin amassed 154 runs. However, the 1st test between England and West Indies was drawn.
5. Garry Sobers, Frank Worrell – 399
Last but not least Garry Sobers and Frank Worrell West Indies batters scored 399 runs in partnership for the 4th wicket in the test match. It was 1960, and day 8 when West Indies posted 563 runs, thanks to Sobers’ 226 runs and Worrell’s unbeaten 197 runs. The match between the West Indies and England was drawn because both teams were not ready to accept defeat.
So these are the top 5 partnerships for the 4th wicket in Test cricket history.
