Test cricket will forever remain the pinnacle of cricket. The toughest format of the game that purists still don’t miss and remain glued for the entire five days. There is no better feeling than performing for your country in whites in Test matches. White ball cricket is like an appetizer whereas Test cricket is the main course. The oldest format of the game that has seen batsman make and break several batting records.
When a batsman score runs in Test cricket he makes a transition from being good to great. From Don Bradman to Sachin Tendulkar to Steve Smith and Virat Kohli they have all proven their mettle in the longest format of the game. But have you ever wondered which are those batsmen that have made the highest individual score at each batting positions?
Here are the highest individual score by each batting position in Test cricket:
1. Matthew Hayden (380)
Starting this list is a destructive former opening batsman of Australia Matthew Hayden. Hayden was an intimidating figure when he went out to bat even in Test cricket against the new red cherry. Opening the innings is never easy in Test cricket as the bowlers are fresh and the ball and pitch always provide them with some sort of assistance.
In 2003 against Zimbabwe Hayden made history and scored 380 which was at the time a world record. Hayden batted like a dream at the WACA that day as he went on to score a record-breaking 380 runs which included 38 fours and 11 huge maximums.
2. Len Hutton (364)
Not many is today’s era are familiar with the name of former England opener Len Hutton. The Englishmen is widely considered as arguably the greatest opening batsman of all time. Hutton was a technician and scored runs with his flawless Textbook technique.
In 1938 at The Oval in London Hutton threw a party as he destroyed the bowling attack of Australia. Hutton played 13 hours long marathon innings and smashed 364 runs that included 35 boundaries. Even after 80 years have gone by Hutton still holds the record for the highest individual score in an Ashes Test.
3. Brian Lara (400)
Brian Charles Lara is next in the list with a world record with the big 400 against England in 2004. The legendary batsman on his favourite ground at ST. Johns in Antigua became the first man to score 400 in international cricket. The gifted southpaw was at his best in that innings as he scored at every possible part of the ground. His play in that innings especially against spinners was breath-taking as he made history.
The knock is still a world record and a mountain that no other batsman has been able to scale yet. Lara usually batted at 4 but in that innings, he came at 3 and broke Hayden’s record of 380 runs in just one year. Lara during his knock hits 43 fours and 4 sixes as the West Indies put a total of 751 runs on the board.
4. Mahela Jayawardena (374)
The legendary Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardena scored a mammoth 374 runs against South Africa in 2006 at Colombo. This is the highest score by any Asian captain in Test cricket. He along with his great batting partner Kumar Sangakkara completely made the match one-sided.
The duo put on a record-breaking 624 partnerships as Jayawardena scored 374 and Sangakkara ended his innings at 287.
The elegant Right-handed batsman Jayawardena smashed 43 fours and 1 six against a quality South African attack. Sri Lanka won the match comprehensively by an innings and 153 runs on the back of Jayawardena’s incredible batting display.
5. Micheal Clarke (329*)
Micheal Clarke was enjoying a rich vein of form during 2012 as he was making runs for fun. At his home ground in Sydney against a helpless Indian attack, Clarke produced a knock for the ages. The Australian captain dominated the bowling attack from the very first ball as he scored 329* off just 468 deliveries.
Clarke in that innings was brutal as he kept punishing the Indian side who had already lost the series 3-0. With 39 fours and a six Clarke recorded the highest individual score at number 5 in Tests. He was on his way to possibly to go past Lara’s 400 but in the end, decided against it and declared the innings. The selfless Aussie captain remained unbeaten on 329 and declared the innings at 659-4. Ultimately Australia wrapped up the Test match by an innings and 68 runs on the back of their skipper’s magical knock.
6. Ben Stokes (258)
The best all-round in world cricket Ben Stokes stunned South Africa in 2016. Stokes came into bat on the hat-trick ball as he soaked in the pressure and produces one of the finest knocks ever.
At Cape Town, Ben Stokes scored the second-fastest double hundred in Test cricket. Batting at number 6 Stokes his wide array of strokes as he electrified the crowd at the stadium. Stokes was literally toying with the South African attack and was hitting sixes at will. He in total struck 11 sixes in his knock of 258 runs off just 198 deliveries.
7. Don Bradman (270)
No list in Test cricket is complete without Sir Donald Bradman arguably the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman was miles ahead of the rest in his era as time and time again he broke records. Especially against rivals England in the Ashes, Bradman used to single-handedly win Test matches.
In 1937, he scored 270 runs batting at number 7 a record that has stood even today. At the mighty MCG Bradman played an iconic inning about which cricket pundits still talk about. After getting dismissed cheaply in the first innings Bradman was determined to bat big in the second and he did just that. 270 runs by Bradman only meant an Aussie victory as they defeated England by a whopping margin of 365 runs.
8. Wasim Akram (257*)
The legendary Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram is considered as the most skilful fast bowler of all time. Akram down the order during his early days was a handy batsman too that could hit big sixes.
In 1996 he scored 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhpura ground in Pakistan. The knock consisted of 12 huge sixes hit by Akram which is the highest by a batsman in one inning.
9. Ian Smith (173)
Currently, Ian Smith is one of the most powerful voices in international cricket. Few people know that he holds the record for the highest individual score batting at number 9. The kiwi scored a brilliant 173 runs against India in 1990 that included 23 fours and 3 maximums.
He stitched a crucial partnership with Richard Hadlee and took the team’s total from 131-7 to 391.
10. Walter William Read (117)
Another Englishmen in the list Walter William Read scored 117 against Australia in 1884. During the third test match at The Oval in London, he scored his maiden Test ton. In his innings, Read struck 20 boundaries and spent 113 minutes at the crease.
More than 100 years have gone by but Read’s record still stands and the chances of anyone breaking it are very slim.
11. Ashton Agar (98)
Australian cricketer Ashton Agar had a dream Test light debut as he scored a classy inning of 98 runs. In the first Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge, Australia was struggling in their first innings. In walked Agar in his maiden Test innings and shocked England by scoring 98 runs.
Agar at only 19 years of age became the youngest to score a Test match fifty on his debut. He was unable to score a hundred but he entertained the crowd and took Australia to a competitive total.