In this article, we are going to take a look at the top 10 batting performances in Test cricket as defined in the Wisden 100, a set of lists created and released in 2001 by Wisden in an attempt to objectively rate the best individual performances in Tests.
Contents
- 1. Donald Bradman’s 270 for Australia against England in Melbourne in the 1936-37 season:
- 2. Brian Lara’s 153 not out for the West Indies against Australia in Bridgetown in the 1998-99 season:
- 3. Graham Gooch’s 154 not out for England against the West Indies in Leeds in 1991:
- 4. Ian Botham’s 149 not out for England against Australia in Leeds in 1981:
- 5. Donald Bradman’s 299 not out for Australia against South Africa in Adelaide in the 1931-32 season:
- 6. VVS Laxman’s 281 for India against Australia in Kolkata in the 2001-02 season:
- 7. Clem Hill’s 188 for Australia against England in Melbourne in the 1897-98 season:
- 8. Azhar Mehmood’s 132 for Pakistan against South Africa in Durban in the 1897-98 season:
- 9. Kim Hughes’s 100 for Australia against the West Indies in Melbourne in the 1981-82 season:
- 10. Brian Lara’s 375 for the West Indies against England in St. John’s in the 1993-94 season:
1. Donald Bradman’s 270 for Australia against England in Melbourne in the 1936-37 season:
In the 3rd Test of a series in January 1937 on England’s tour of Australia, Australia batted first and scored 200/9 declared. In reply, England made 76/9 declared. Bradman’s epic innings that included a 6th-wicket stand of 346 with Jack Fingleton helped Australia to a score of 564, leaving England 689 to get to win. In their second outing, England could make only 323, paving the way for a 365-run win for Australia.
2. Brian Lara’s 153 not out for the West Indies against Australia in Bridgetown in the 1998-99 season:p>In the 3rd Test of a series in March 1999 on Australia’s tour of the West Indies, Australia batted first and made 490. Replying, the West Indies were bowled out for 329 before Australia collapsed to be all out for 146. In the second innings, Lara took guard with the West Indies score reading 78/3. Regular wickets reduced the score further to 248/8 before Lara shared a 54-run stand for the 9th wicket with Curtly Ambrose and helped his side to scale the target of 308 in a tense finish. 3. Graham Gooch’s 154 not out for England against the West Indies in Leeds in 1991:p>In the 1st Test of a series in June 1991 on the West Indies’ tour of England, the hosts batted first and were bowled out for 198. In reply, the West Indies made 173. In their second outing, England made 252, riding on Gooch’s unbeaten 154. Opening the innings, Gooch rescued England after they were reduced to 38/3 with a 4th-wicket stand of 78 with Ramprakash and later a 7th-wicket stand of 98 with Pringle. Chasing 278 to win, the West Indies were bowled out for 162, leaving England the winners by 115 runs. 4. Ian Botham’s 149 not out for England against Australia in Leeds in 1981:p>In the 3rd Test of a series in July 1981 on Australia’s tour of England, the tourists batted first declared their innings closed at 401/9. In reply, England were bowled out for 174. Following on, England were reduced to 105/5 when Botham took guard at the wicket. More wickets fell to leave England reeling at 135/7. With partnerships of 117, 67 and 37 for the last three wickets, Botham helped set Australia a modest target of 130 before the tourists collapsed to be all out for 111, leaving England the winners by 17 runs. 5. Donald Bradman’s 299 not out for Australia against South Africa in Adelaide in the 1931-32 season:p>Batting first in the 4th Test on their tour of Australia in January 1932, South Africa scored 308. During Australia’s reply, Bradman came to the crease with the scorecard on 9/1. Bradman’s partnerships of 176 and 114 with Woodfull and Rigg respectively helped the hosts to an eventual score of 513. They bowled out the tourists for 274 in their second knock. Chasing 70 to win in the 4th innings, Australia scaled the target without loss of wickets.