Top 10 Batting Pairs with Highest Partnership in Test Cricket for Each Wicket

Highest Partnership in Test: In its history of 146 years, Test cricket has always been the purest form of the game. Throughout the years, we have witnessed some of the greatest performances with both bat and ball in Test cricket which will always remain on top even in the era of limited overs format. 

The partnerships between batsmen play a crucial role for a team in getting ahead in the Test match. In this article, we will have a look at the top batting pairs with the highest partnerships in Test cricket by wicket.

Highest Partnership in Test Cricket By Wicket

10. Jacques Rudolph – Boeta Dippenaar (South Africa): 429 Runs

The tenth spot in the list belongs to the South African pair which took the game away from Bangladesh in Chattogram on 24th April, 2003. After bowling Bangladesh out for 173 runs in the first innings, South Africa declared their innings on 470 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. However, the Proteas lost both their openers early. After that, Jacques Rudolph took charge of the innings along with Boeta Dippenaar. Both the batters didn’t let any wicket fall for the rest of the innings and put up a partnership of 429 runs for the third wicket. Rudolph went on to score his double century as he remained unbeaten on 222 runs off 383 balls with 29 fours and two sixes. While Dippenaar scored unbeaten 177 runs off 369 balls, hitting 25 fours and two sixes. Bangladesh were bowled out for 237 runs in their second innings and South Africa won the match by an innings and 60 runs. 

9. Mahela Jayawardene & Thilan Samaraweera (Sri Lanka): 437 Runs

The next mention in the list is of Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene. The pair from Sri Lanka registered a mammoth partnership against Pakistan in Karachi on 21st February, 2009. Batting first, Sri Lanka had a decent start with the half-centuries by Malinda Warnapura and Kumar Sangakkara. However, after the fall of the third wicket, the real show began.Skipper Jayawardene and Samaraweera took on the Pakistani bowlers and went on to put up a partnership of 437 runs for the fourth wicket. Jayawardene scored 240 runs off 424 balls hitting 32 boundaries. On the other hand, Samaraweera got out after scoring 231 runs off 318 balls smashing 31 boundaries. Because of these knocks, Sri Lanka posted 644 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their first innings. However, Pakistani batters also didn’t up as the home side declared on 765 runs for the loss of 6 wickets, powered by skipper Younis Khan’s triple ton. Eventually, the match ended in a draw.

8. Marvan Atapattu – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 438 Runs

Another pair from Sri Lanka made an appearance in the list for their partnership against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on 14th May, 2004. Skipper Marvan Atapattu took charge along with Kumar Sangakkara as Sri Lanka registered a mammoth victory. After bowling Zimbabwe out for 228 runs, Sri Lanka declared after posting 713 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. Atapattu and Sangakkara together scored 438 runs before the fall of the second wicket. Atapattu got after scoring 249 runs off 324 balls with 36 fours and a maximum. On the other hand Sangakkara top scored with 270 runs off 365 balls, smashing 36 fours and two sixes. Putting cherry on the top, Mahela Jayawardene remained unbeaten on 100 from 152 deliveries. In reply, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 231 runs in their second innings and Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 254 runs. 

7. Garry Sobers & Conrad Hunte (West Indies): 446 Runs

The pair from West Indies showed a batting masterclass against Pakistan in Kingston on 26th February, 1958. In reply to Pakistan’s 328 runs, West Indies declared on 790 for 3 wickets taking a lead of 462 runs in the first innings. The partnership between Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers was the main highlight of the West Indian innings. The pair added 446 runs for the second wicket. Hunte scored 260 runs hitting 28 fours and a maximum. Meanwhile, Sobers went on to smash his triple ton as he remained unbeaten on 365 runs, smashing 38 boundaries. Eventually, West Indies won the match by an innings and 174 runs. 

6. Adam Voges – Shaun Marsh (Australia): 449 Runs

This time, the pair from Australia makes into the list for a mammoth partnership against West Indies in Hobart on 10th December, 2015. Batting first, Australia declared their innings on 583 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh put the hosts on frontfoot with a partnership of 449 runs for the fourth wicket. Marsh scored 182 runs off 266 balls with 15 fours and a six. Voges turned out to be the top scorer with 269 runs off 285 balls, smashing 33 boundaries. In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 223 and 148 runs in both innings consecutively and Australia won the match by an innings and 212 runs.

5. Mudassar Nazar – Javed Miandad (Pakistan): 451 Runs

The Pakistani pair comes fifth in the list of highest partnerships in Test cricket. Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad took on the Indian bowling line up in Hyderabad on 14th January 1983. Batting first, Pakistan posted a total of 581 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their first innings. Nazar and Miandad put up a partnership of 451 runs for the third wicket. Nazar went on to complete his ton as he got out after scoring 231 runs off 444 balls with 21 fours and a six. On the other hand, Miandad turned out to be the top scorer as he remained unbeaten on 280 runs off 460 deliveries with 19 fours and a six. After that, the Pakistani bowlers did their part well as the visitors continued to dominate the hosts throughout the Test match and won the game by an innings and 119 runs. 

4. Bill Ponsford – Don Bradman (Australia): 451 Runs

The legendary pair from Australia put up one of the best partnerships in Test cricket in a match against England at the Oval on 18th August 1934. Batting first, Australia were bowled out after posting a mammoth total of 701 runs in the first innings. The credit goes to Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman who put up a partnership of 451 runs for the second wicket. Ponsford got out after scoring 266 runs 422 balls with 27 boundaries. On the other hand, Bradman played a fiery knock 244 runs off 271 balls, smashing 32 fours and a maximum. The Aussies dominated the hosts throughout the Test match and went on to register a mammoth victory by 562 runs. 

3. Andrew Jones – Martin Crowe (New Zealand): 467 Runs

The pair from New Zealand registered one of the best Test partnerships as it helped the Kiwis to make a comeback and save the Test match from Sri Lanka in Wellington on 31st January, 1991. Sri Lanka took a mammoth lead of 323 runs in the first innings by posting 497 runs in reply to 174 runs by New Zealand. After that, Andrew Jones and the skipper Martin Crowe took charge for the hosts in the second innings and put up a huge partnership of 467 runs for the third wicket. Jones got out after scoring 186 runs off 454 balls, hitting 15 boundaries. On the other hand, Crowe fell short of his triple hundred by just one run as he got out on 299 runs off 523 balls, including 29 fours and three sixes. New Zealand scored 671 runs for the loss 4 wickets before the match ended in a draw.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya – Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka): 576 Runs

The partnership between the Sri Lankan pair is not only the second highest partnership in Test cricket, but it also led to the highest ever Test total by a team in international cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama were all over against Indian bowlers in Colombo on 2nd August 1997. Batting first, India declared their first innings on 537 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. In reply, Jayasuriya and Mahanama took charge of the Sri Lanka innings and registered a 576-run partnership for the second wicket. Jayasuriya shone with a triple ton as he got out after scoring 340 runs off 578 balls, hitting 36 four and two sixes. On the other hand, Mahanama went on to score a double century as he got out after scoring 225 runs off 561 balls with 27 boundaries. Sri Lanka ended up posting a mammoth 952 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. However, the match ended in a draw. 

1. Kumar Sangakkara – Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka): 624 Runs

The list ends with the legendary duo from Sri Lanka that registered the highest ever partnership in Test cricket in a match against South Africa in Colombo on 27th July, 2006. Batting first, South Africa were bowled out for 169 runs in the first innings. In reply, Sri Lanka also didn’t have a great start as they lost both their openers early. After that, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene took charge of the innings and went on to register the best partnership in Test cricket in terms of runs. The duo added 624 runs for the third wicket as hosts  declared on 756 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Sangakkara got out after scoring 287 runs off 457 balls, hitting 35 boundaries. On the other hand, Jayawardene shined with a triple ton as he got out after scoring 374 runs off 572 balls, smashing 43 fours and a maximum. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 434 runs and Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 153 runs.

Record Partnerships in Test Cricket by Wicket

Conclusion

In cricket, batting partnerships matter a great deal especially when the innings is up against a very challenging bowling line-up. The number of runs scored in these partnerships helps a team last longer and stand their ground in any situation of the innings. Be it a partnership of any wicket or between any batsmen which may not even be recognised, the number of runs scored between two players does build a wall against any bowling line-up. In test cricket, even for non-recognised batsmen, the stars might well be aligned in any course of the match.

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