Even though the IPL and the shortest format of the game is going on, everybody has an eye on the Test matches between India and Australia. Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game. You ask any main player he will say that scoring runs in Test cricket will give him more joy than in any other format. Battling it out in tough conditions against high-quality bowlers when the ball is doing something is a tough job. Scoring runs in a Test match at any time is a difficult task but especially in the fourth innings when the pitch is the toughest to bat on. There have been players who have scored big runs in the fourth innings of a Test match. Who are these great players and how many have they scored? Let’s have a look at five batsmen with the highest fourth innings score in Test history.
5. Gordon Greenidge vs England – 214*
West Indies were playing against England in 1984 at Lords. England batted first and was bowled out for 286. West Indies were also bowled for 245 in their first innings which gave England a 41-run lead. England scored 300-9 in their second innings before declaring. West Indies had to chase 342 which is a huge score in the fourth innings. Gordon Greenidge who was the opener came out to bat and smashed all the England bowlers to all the parts of the park as he scored 214* off just 242 balls with 29 fours and 2 sixes. West Indies chased down the score in 66.1 overs with 9 wickets in hand. It was one of the most dramatic run-chases in the fourth innings of a Test match.
4. William Edrich vs South Africa – 219
For this match, we have to go back to 1939. England was up against South Africa in the fifth Test match at Durban. South Africa batted first and scored a mammoth 530 before getting bowled out. In reply, England managed only 316. South Africa again scored 481 which meant England needed to score 696 runs to win. It seemed as if the target was out of reach but William Edrich who came to bat No.3 scored 219 runs which meant England scored 654-5 before the match was stopped. This match went on for 10 days and it ended in a draw. If there was some more time, England might have chased down a total of 696 only majorly because of William Edrich who scored a double hundred.
3. Sunil Gavaskar vs England – 221
The Indian legendary opener – Sunil Gavaskar is also on the list. In 1979, India toured England and it was the fourth Test at Kennington Oval in London. England batted first and scored 305 in the first innings. In reply, India was bowled for 202. In the second innings, England declared at 334-8 which meant India needed to score 438 runs to win the Test match. The Indian opener – Sunil Gavaskar scored a fabulous double-century – 221 off 443 balls and at one point it seemed as if India might chase it down. But once Gavaskar was dismissed, wickets started falling and at the end, India was 429-8 with the match ending in a draw. But it was the finest batting display by an Indian in the fourth innings of a Test match.
2. Nathan Astle vs England – 222
England was visiting New Zealand for a Test series in 2002. England batted first and was bowled out for 228. New Zealand failed to make an impact with the bat as they were dismissed for 147. England went big and scored 468-6 in their second innings before declaring. New Zealand had to chase 550 which was out of reach for any team. But Nathan Astle decided that he would go for the target and he smashed all the England bowlers as he scored 222 off just 168 balls with 28 fours and 11 sixes to his name. It was an entertaining innings but New Zealand was dismissed for 451. Nathan Astle gave his all in the chase but didn’t get support from the others.
1. George Headley vs England – 223
Again, for this game, we have to go back to 1930 when England was up against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica. England batted first and scored a mammoth 849 in their first innings. In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 286. In the second innings, England declared at 272-9 which meant West Indies had to score 836 runs to win. George Headley who came in at No.3 went on to score 223 off 385 balls which helped West Indies draw the game. To date, the score of 223 by George Headley remains the highest score by a batsman in the fourth innings of a Test match.
