Test cricket is back as the India-Australia series has started down under. It was proper test match cricket as the batsmen found it difficult to score and they had to respect the opposition bowlers. The scoring rate was under 3 for the most part of the game which is rare these days. Nowadays even openers are looking to score more runs from the ball one in the longest format.
On the first day, India managed to score 233 runs whereas on the other hand there are a lot of batsmen who have scored more than that individually on a single day in a Test match. Batsmen have score way more than 200 runs in a single day. So, on that note, let’s have a look at the five batsmen who have scored the most number of runs in a single day in a Test match.
5. Sir Donald Bradman – 271 vs England
We all know Sir Donald Bradman’s Test records as he averages close to 100 but most of those runs have come at a brisk pace as well. Australia was up against England in 1934 at Leeds. England won the toss and opted to bat first and they were bowled out for 200 in 105.4 overs.
In reply, Australia scored 584 out of which Sir Donald Bradman scored a triple century. He scored 271 out of those 304 runs in a single day. He was dismissed on 304 off 473 balls with 43 fours and two sixes. England survived in their second innings which meant that the game ended in a draw.
4. Dennis Compton – 273 vs Pakistan
England was up against Pakistan in 1954 at Nottingham. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first and was bowled out for 157 in 65 overs. England was batting on the first day and Dennis Compton remained not out on 5 at the end of the day.
On the next day, he came into bat and scored 273 runs as he was dismissed on 278 off just 287 balls with 34 fours and one six. His quick batting gave the England bowlers enough time to dismiss Pakistan for the second time in the Test and England won by an innings and 129 runs.
3. Virender Sehwag – 284 runs vs Sri Lanka
When you talk about quick batting in Tests, Virender Sehwag has to be somewhere around the corner. He dominated the bowlers at a different level. India was up against Sri Lanka at Mumbai and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 393 in their first innings.
Sehwag opened the batting on the second day and scored 284 runs in the whole day as he smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers to all the parts of the ground. On the next day, he got out on 293 and missed his tripe century but India won that game pretty easily in the end.
2. Wally Hammond – 295 vs New Zealand
England was up against New Zealand in 1933 and the Kiwis were bowled out for 158 in their first innings. Wally Hammond who came in to bat at No.3 was not out on 41 at the end of the day’s play.
On the next day, he scored 295 runs and reached a total of 336 off just 318 balls which included 34 fours and 10 sixes. England declared but the match ended in a draw.
1. Sir Donald Bradman – 309 vs England
The Don is back on the list as he is the only player to score more than 300 runs in a single day in a Test match. Australia was batting first at Leeds against England and Sir Donald Bradman who came into bat at No.3 scored 309 runs in the whole day as the England bowlers had no answers against the Don.
He was dismissed on 334 off 448 balls which included 46 fours. Australia had scored a lot of runs which allowed them to enforce the follow-on but still, the match ended in a draw. Sir Donald Bradman remains the only player to score more than 300 runs in a single day.
