5 Highest Partnerships In Test Cricket

5 Highest Partnerships In Test Cricket (@SkyCricket/X.com)5 Highest Partnerships In Test Cricket (@SkyCricket/X.com)

Test cricket, widely reckoned as the toughest format of the sport, has produced some of the most iconic batting partnerships ever seen in the sport. Partnerships often serve as the backbone of great team performances, allowing for a foundation on which massive totals can be built.

On that note, let's recollect the top 5 highest partnerships ever recorded in Test format for any wicket.

5. Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman - 451 runs

5. Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman - 451 runs (@PictureSporting/X.com)5. Bill Ponsford & Don Bradman - 451 runs (@PictureSporting/X.com)

The legendary pairing of Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman produced one of the most historic partnerships in Test cricket. Against England at The Oval in 1934, the two Australians added 451 runs for the 2nd wicket. Bradman, regarded as the greatest batter in the history of the game, contributed 244 runs, while Ponsford added 266. This partnership is one of the oldest records in Test cricket and stands as a fine example of Bradman's unparalleled dominance during his era.

4. Joe Root & Harry Brook - 454 runs

4. Joe Root & Harry Brook - 454 runs (@englandcricket/X.com)4. Joe Root & Harry Brook - 454 runs (@englandcricket/X.com)

The most recent entry on this historic list came on October 10, 2024, when England's Joe Root and Harry Brook added 454 runs for the 4th wicket against Pakistan in the Multan Test. Root extended his sublime run in red ball format with 262, whereas his partner on the other end, Harry Brook, slammed a triple century to establish his unmatched dominance in Pakistan conditions. Their partnership helped England set up a 823 runs total in the second innings, which serves as a reminder of England's aggressive intent in the modern era.

3. Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe - 467 runs

3. Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe - 467 runs (@ICC/X.com)3. Andrew Jones & Martin Crowe - 467 runs (@ICC/X.com)

In a marathon effort in Wellington in 1991, Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe added 467 runs for the 3rd wicket against Sri Lanka. This partnership is the highest in New Zealand's cricket history. Crowe scored 299, agonisingly missing out on what would have been the first triple-century for New Zealand. Jones, meanwhile, scored a patient 186, ensuring that the partnership stood the test of time as New Zealand piled on 671 runs before declaring the innings.

2. Roshan Mahanama & Sanath Jayasuriya - 576 runs

2. Roshan Mahanama & Sanath Jayasuriya - 576 runs (@Rosh_Maha/X.com)2. Roshan Mahanama & Sanath Jayasuriya - 576 runs (@Rosh_Maha/X.com)

In another record-breaking partnership, Roshan Mahanama and Sanath Jayasuriya put together 576 runs for the 2nd wicket against India in August 1997. Their partnership played a key role in Sri Lanka posting a massive 952/6d, the highest team total in the history of Test cricket. Jayasuriya went on to score 340, while Mahanama contributed 225, giving the Indian bowlers one of their toughest challenges in Test history.

1. Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene - 624 runs

1. Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene - 624 runs (@ICC/X.com)1. Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardene - 624 runs (@ICC/X.com)

The highest partnership in the history of Test cricket was put together by two of Sri Lanka's greatest-ever players, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Batting at Colombo in July 2006, the two right-handers added a staggering 624 runs for the 3rd wicket against South Africa. This monumental stand helped Sri Lanka post a mammoth first-innings total of 756/5d, allowing them to secure an innings victory. Jayawardene finished with 374, the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan at the time, while Sangakkara contributed 287.