December 6, 2023
Duration of Innings Break in ODI, Test, I.P.L. and T20
Cricket is a game where partnerships play a pivotal role, as seen in memorable moments like Maxwell’s partnership with Pat Cummins against Afghanistan and Travis Head’s in the World Cup final with Marnus Labuschagne in 2023. In Test cricket, partnerships are even more crucial. They allow batsmen to strategize, such as facing specific bowlers and understanding the pitch conditions, which can turn modest scores into monumental ones. This article delves into the top 5 highest partnerships by wicket in Test cricket.
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The record for the highest opening wicket partnership in Test cricket was set during the South Africa tour of Bangladesh in 2008. South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie made history as the opening wicket pair in the second Test at Chattogram, scoring 415 runs together.
Graeme Smith, leading from the front, scored a magnificent 232 runs. His partner, Neil McKenzie, complemented him perfectly with a brilliant 226. Their collaboration laid a solid foundation for South Africa, leading them to a commanding total of 583/7 declared.
The impact of this partnership was evident in the match’s outcome. Bangladesh, overwhelmed by South Africa’s massive total, succumbed to an innings defeat. South Africa won the match by an innings and 205 runs, a victory underlined by the record-breaking opening stand.
One of the most remarkable partnerships in Test cricket history occurred during the India tour of Sri Lanka in 1997. In the first Test at Colombo, Sri Lankan batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama created an unforgettable moment in cricket history.
Jayasuriya and Mahanama came together at the fall of the first wicket on 39 and went on to add an astonishing 576 runs partnership for the second wicket. This partnership is the highest partnership for the second wicket in Test cricket.
Sanath Jayasuriya, known for his aggressive batting style, played a phenomenal innings, scoring 340 runs. His innings included 36 fours and 2 sixes. On the other end, Roshan Mahanama complemented Jayasuriya perfectly with a patient and skillful 225, including 27 fours.
This partnership was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s first innings. It helped Sri Lanka to reach a mammoth total of 952/6 declared, which is the highest team total in Test cricket history.
India, who batted first, had put up a respectable total of 537/8 declared, with significant contributions from Navjot Sidhu (111), Sachin Tendulkar (143), and Mohammad Azharuddin (126). However, the monumental partnership between Jayasuriya and Mahanama overshadowed India’s effort. The match eventually ended in a draw, but the record-breaking partnership etched Jayasuriya and Mahanama’s names in cricket history forever.
Certain partnerships have become legendary for their impact and magnitude. The highest third-wicket stand in Test cricket was one such partnership, which Sri Lankan masters Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene achieved.
During the South Africa tour of Sri Lanka in 2006, in the first Test at Colombo (SSC), Sangakkara and Jayawardene came together at the fall of the second wicket (14-2) and went on to script a historic partnership. They added an incredible 624-run partnership for the third wicket, which is not only the highest for the third wicket but also the highest-ever partnership in Test cricket.
Kumar Sangakkara, who is known for his beautiful stroke play and solid technique, scored 287 runs. Mahela Jayawardene, his partner, scored an even better 374 runs to go with his.
South Africa, batting first, were bowled out for a modest 169 in their first innings. In response to Sri Lanka’s mammoth total, South Africa fared better in their second innings, scoring 434, thanks to contributions from Jacques Rudolph (90) and Mark Boucher (85). However, it was not enough to prevent an innings defeat. Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 153 runs, with the match being remembered primarily for the record-breaking partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene.
One of the most impressive fourth-wicket partnerships in Test cricket history was between Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh of Australia.
During the West Indies tour of Australia in 2015-16, in the first Test at Hobart, Voges and Marsh came together at the fall of the third wicket and went on to construct a massive partnership. They added an incredible 449-run partnership for the fourth wicket, showcasing a blend of resilience, skill, and concentration.
Adam Voges played a phenomenal innings, scoring an unbeaten 269 runs, while Shaun Marsh complemented him with a splendid 182. Their partnership was marked by a mix of aggressive and defensive play, completely dominating the West Indies bowling attack.
This partnership was crucial in Australia amassing a huge first innings total of 583/4 declared. It set a strong foundation for the Australian team and put the West Indies under immense pressure.
The West Indies, in response to Australia’s massive total, were bowled out for 223 in their first innings and 148 in their second innings, following on. Australia won the match by an innings and 212 runs. The match was particularly notable for James Pattinson’s five-wicket haul in the second innings, which played a significant role in dismantling the West Indies batting lineup.
The highest fifth-wicket partnership in Test cricket is 405 runs, achieved by Australian legends Sid Barnes and Don Bradman in 1946, and still, no one even came close to breaking this record.
During the England tour of Australia in 1946-47, in the second Test at Sydney, Barnes and Bradman came together at the fall of the fourth wicket (159-4) and went on to construct a monumental partnership. They added an incredible 405 runs for the fifth wicket.
Sid Barnes and Donald Bradman both scored and impressive 234 runs that includes 17 fours from Barnes and 24 fours from Bradman.
Australia won the match by an innings and 33 runs. The match was particularly notable for the dominant performance by the Australian batsmen, especially Barnes and Bradman, whose partnership remains one of the most iconic moments in cricket history.
Read more: Greatest ODI Innings of all time
In Test cricket, partnerships are more than just getting runs; they involve players working together strategically and helping each other out. These partnerships are very important for stopping the other team’s bowling plans, especially when one batsman makes up for the weaknesses of the other. For example, a player who isn’t very good at facing spin bowling can count on their partner to face more of it, which will keep the game stable.
Partnerships are important not only for the runs they score, but also for how they make the other team feel. Bowlers can lose motivation when playing with dominant pairs like Smith and McKenzie, Jayasuriya and Mahanama, and Barnes and Bradman. This gives the dominant pair a tactical edge. These historic partnerships have not only changed the results of games, but they have also left behind stories that will never be forgotten in cricket’s history.
Partnerships in Test cricket show how powerful it is to work together. They show how important it is to be flexible, understand, and plan strategically in order to make great plays and do amazing things in sports.
| Wicket | Runs | Partners | Team | Match Date |
| 1st | 415 | GC Smith, ND McKenzie | South Africa | 29 Feb 2008 |
| 2nd | 576 | RS Mahanama, ST Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 2 Aug 1997 |
| 3rd | 624 | KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 27 Jul 2006 |
| 4th | 449 | AC Voges, SE Marsh | Australia | 10 Dec 2015 |
| 5th | 405 | DG Bradman, SG Barnes | Australia | 13 Dec 1946 |
| 6th | 399 | BA Stokes, JM Bairstow | England | 2 Jan 2016 |
| 7th | 347 | CC Depeiaza, DS Atkinson | West Indies | 14 May 1955 |
| 8th | 332 | IJL Trott, SCJ Broad | England | 26 Aug 2010 |
| 9th | 195 | PL Symcox, MV Boucher | South Africa | 14 Feb 1998 |
| 10th | 198 | JE Root, JM Anderson | England | 9 Jul 2014 |
The highest Test cricket partnership for the 1st wicket is 415 runs, which was set by Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie of South Africa against Bangladesh in 2008. Smith scored 232 runs where as McKenzie scored 226 runs in that match.
The highest 6th wicket partnership in Test cricket is a whopping 399 runs, scored by England’s Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow against South Africa in 2016! Ben Stokes scored 258 runs, while Bairstow was not out for 150* runs.
The record for the highest 10th wicket partnership in Test cricket stands at a magnificent 198 runs, achieved by England’s Joe Root and James Anderson against India in 2014! Joe Root remained not out for 154* runs while Anderson scored 81 runs on that day.
The highest 8th wicket partnership in Test cricket is a mighty 332 runs, put on by England’s Jonathan Trott (184) and Stuart Broad (169) against Pakistan in 2010!
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