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Partnerships in test cricket play a crucial role in any batting line-up. There have been many successful batting pairs that have forged historic numbers. Here in this article, we take a look at the highest partnerships in test cricket for every wicket.
Highest partnerships in Test
1st wicket
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Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie, 415 runs vs Bangladesh
During the South Africa tour of Bangladesh in 2008, South Africa was a formidable unit led by Graeme Smith while Bangladesh was still trying to play as much test cricket as possible. During the second and final test at Chattogram, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. Skipper, Graeme opening the innings with Neil McKenzie and shared a 415-run stand. The duo smashed double centuries. It was Graeme who took the slightly aggressive route in the partnership. Smith scored 232 runs in just 277 balls while McKenzie scored 170 runs in 292 balls in their partnership. Graeme only hit one six while hitting 33 fours in his stupendous innings. Smith was bowled by Abdur Razzak ending a marathon knock which lasted more than 400 minutes. McKenzie was then dismissed after scoring 226 runs in 388 balls hitting 28 fours and three sixes.
2nd wicket
Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama, 576 runs vs India
India toured Sri Lanka in 1997 and in the opening test at Colombo, India elected to bat first on a batter-friendly track. India batted for close to two days and declared after scoring 537 runs. In the second innings, Nilesh Kulkarni took a wicket on his first ball in test cricket and dismissed opener Marvan Atapattu. Opener Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama then shared a 576-run stand for the second wicket. The duo batted for the entirety of the third and fourth days of the test match. Mahanama was the first one to be dismissed after scoring 225 runs in 561 balls. Mahanama was caught leg before wicket by Anil Kumble. He did not hit a single six in his innings while smashing 27 fours. Jayasuriya on the other hand completed his triple-century. He batted for close to 800 minutes playing 578 balls. The Sri Lankan opener hit 36 fours and two sixes.
3rd wicket
Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, 624 runs vs South Africa
In 2006, South Africa toured Sri Lanka and in the first test at Colombo, South Africa batted first after winning the toss. The visitors were bowled out for just 169 runs in the first innings. After a couple of early wickets in the second innings, Sri Lanka looked in a spot of bother. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene then forged the highest-ever partnership in test cricket. Sangakkara missed out on the triple century but his skipper at the other end went past the triple century mark. Sangakkara was dismissed Andrew Hall after scoring 287 runs hitting 35 fours but no sixes. Jayawardene scored 374 runs in 572 balls hitting 43 fours and one six. Jayawardene was dismissed by Andre Nel.
4th wicket
Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh, 449 runs vs West Indies
In 2015, the West Indies toured Australia and in the first test at Hobart, Australia batted first after winning the toss. Adam Voges after making his debut just a few months ago was in great form. After the West Indies bowlers picked up the first three wickets for 121 runs, Voges and Shaun Marsh joined each other at the crease. Voges and Shaun shared a 449-run stand for the 4th wicket. Voges took the aggressive role in the stand scoring 249 runs in just 267 balls. Shaun missed out on his double century as he was dismissed for 182 runs in 266 balls by Jomel Warrican. Shaun hit 15 fours and one six in his innings. Voges remained not out and scored 269 runs in just 285 balls hitting 33 fours.
5th wicket
Don Bradman and Sid Barnes, 405 runs vs England
During England’s tour of Australia in 1946 the highest partnership for the 5th wicket was made by Don Bradman and Sid Barnes. Sid Barnes opening the innings saw wickets falling at the other end. The 4th wicket fell with the score reading 159 runs. Bradman and Barnes then forged a 405-run stand against arch-rivals, England. Their partnership helped Australia win the match by an innings and 33 runs.
6th wicket
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, 399 runs vs South Africa
It was a batting paradise in the second test at Cape Town when England toured South Africa in 2016. England won the toss and opted to bat first and scored 223 runs at the loss of five wickets. Ben Stokes played an innings similar to Bazball. Along with Stokes, Jonny Bairstow batting at number six also played in an aggressive manner. During the partnership, Stokes scored 234 runs in 160 balls and Bairstow scored 143 runs during the partnership. Stokes and Bairstow shared a 399-run stand in just 349 balls. Stokes was the first batter to be dismissed. The all-rounder scored 258 runs in 198 balls hitting 30 fours and 11 sixes. Bairstow remained not out and scored 150 runs in 191 balls hitting 18 fours and two sixes. The match was eventually drawn.
7th wicket
Denis Atkinson and Clairmonte Depeiaza, 347 runs vs Australia
The highest partnership for the 7th wicket came in 1955 when Australia toured the West Indies. During the 4th test at Bridgetown, Australia elected to bat first after winning the toss. Australia scored 668 runs in their first innings. In reply, West Indies lost their first six wickets cheaply with just 147 runs on the board. Skipper, Denis Atkinson and Clairmonte Depeiaza shared a 347-run stand for the 7th wicket. Atkinson scored 219 runs before getting dismissed by Ian Johnson while Depiaza made 122 runs before Richie Benaud bowled him. The match was eventually drawn.
8th wicket
Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad, 332 runs vs Pakistan
Pakistan toured England in 2010 and they got a bowler-friendly track at Lord’s in the 4th test. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first and started really well with the ball. The Pakistani bowlers dismissed half of the England side for just 47 runs. The hosts lost seven wickets for just 102 runs with four of the batters registering ducks. Jonathan Trott batting at number three was the only batter who looked at bay against the Pakistani attack until he was joined by Stuart Broad. Trott and Broad shared a 332-run stand for the 8th wicket. Trott scored 135 runs in the partnership while Broad was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal after scoring 169 runs. The fast bowler scored 169 runs in 297 balls hitting 18 fours and one six. Trott played a marathon innings lasting more than nine hours. Trott on the other hand was the last batter to be dismissed by Wahab Riaz. He smashed 19 fours during his innings.
9th wicket
Mark Boucher and Pat Symcox, 195 runs vs Pakistan
Pakistan was once again on the receiving end of a lower-order partnership. During Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in 1998 in the first test at Johannesburg the 195-run partnership for the 9th wicket was made. Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq troubled the South African batters in the first innings after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. South Africa were 8 wickets down with 166 runs on the board. All-rounder, Pat Symcox and Mark Bouched shared a 195-run stand. Symcox scored a century before Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed him. Symcox scored 108 runs in 157 balls hitting 17 fours while Boucher scored 78 runs in 161 balls hitting nine fours and one six. With rain interruptions throughout the test, the match was drawn.
10th wicket
Joe Root and James Anderson, 198 runs vs India
India was at the receiving end of the highest 10th-wicket partnership when they toured England in 2014. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first at Nottingham. India scored 457 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, the Indian bowlers had done the tough task of taking nine wickets of England for just 298 runs. Joe Root batting at five stitched up a 198-run partnership with number 11 batter, James Anderson. Root remained not out and scored 154 runs in 295 balls hitting 15 fours while Anderson scored 81 runs in 130 balls hitting 17 fours before being dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
