Highest 1st Wicket Partnership in Test

The 1st wicket partnership in test is vital in setting the momentum, providing stability, and influencing the overall strategy of the team. 

A strong start can demoralize the opposition and create a platform for middle-order batsmen.

Record-breaking opening stands, such as the highest 1st wicket partnership in test, showcase the dominance and resilience of openers in challenging conditions.

From facing top-quality bowlers to dealing with unpredictable pitch conditions and the pressures of record-breaking expectations, opening batsmen must navigate a host of difficulties. 

Yet, it is these very challenges that make breaking records in Test cricket all the more special and celebrated when accomplished.

Highest 1st Wicket Partnership in Test | Top 10

Here is a detailed overview of the top 10 highest opening partnerships in test cricket.

10. Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya – 335 runs (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Kandy, 28-June-2000)

Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya made a remarkable partnership of 335 runs against Pakistan in Kandy on June 28, 2000. 

This partnership was a blend of Jayasuriya’s aggressive batting and Atapattu’s classical style. 

The duo’s resilience against a formidable Pakistan bowling attack marked a significant moment in Sri Lanka’s cricketing journey, setting the stage for future successes. due to rain, the Test match in Kandy ended in a draw.

9. Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul – 336 runs (West Indies vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 04-Feb-2023)

In a more recent entry to the list, West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul formed a partnership of 336 runs against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on February 4, 2023. 

The Test match ended in a draw. West Indies, with Brathwaite and Chanderpaul’s monumental partnership, posted a total of 447/6 declared and 203/5d.

 Zimbabwe responded with 379/9d and 134/6, and the match concluded without a clear result.

8. Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs – 338 runs (South Africa vs England, Birmingham, 24-July-2003)

Image credit: Getty Images

South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs made another appearance in the record books on July 24, 2003, in Birmingham, scoring 338 runs against England. 

This partnership showcased the consistency and adaptability of the South African openers.

Smith’s captaincy prowess and Gibbs’ aggressive style combined to form a partnership that not only provided a solid foundation in that Test match but also demonstrated the duo’s ability to perform against quality opposition on foreign soil.

The Test match in Birmingham ended in a draw. South Africa, thanks to another significant partnership between Smith and Gibbs, declared at 594/5. 

In response, England managed 557/8, and the match concluded without a decisive outcome.

7. Len Hutton, Cyril Washbrook – 359 runs (England vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 27-Dec-1948)

Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook, two stalwarts of English cricket, showcased their class on December 27, 1948, in Johannesburg against South Africa. 

Accumulating 359 runs, this partnership was a testament to the resilience and skill of English batsmen in challenging conditions. 

Hutton’s meticulous technique and Washbrook’s elegant strokeplay mesmerized cricket enthusiasts, establishing a benchmark for opening partnerships in Test cricket during that era.

The Test match resulted in a draw. England, batting first, declared at 608, led by the monumental partnership between Hutton and Washbrook. 

South Africa replied with 450/7, and the match concluded without a winner.

6. Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs – 368 runs (South Africa vs Pakistan, Cape Town, 02-Jan-2003)

South African cricket fans had reason to celebrate on January 2, 2003, as Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs combined to produce a formidable partnership of 368 runs against Pakistan in Cape Town. 

The duo’s aggressive approach put immense pressure on the opposition bowlers. Smith’s leadership qualities and Gibbs’ flair made this partnership a spectacle. 

Beyond the individual milestones, this partnership set the tone for South Africa’s dominance in the Test match.

South Africa, due to the record-breaking partnership between Smith and Gibbs, declared at 620/7 and won the match by an innings and 142 runs.

Pakistan responded with 483/9. Despite both teams scoring heavily, time constraints prevented a conclusive result.

5. Bill Lawry, Bob Simpson – 382 runs (Australia vs West Indies, Bridgetown, 05-May-1965)

Australia’s opening pair, Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson, created history on May 5, 1965, in Bridgetown, accumulating 382 runs against the West Indies. 

The partnership exemplified the disciplined and methodical approach that Australian batsmen were renowned for. 

Lawry’s resilience and Simpson’s technical prowess were on full display, providing a blueprint for opening partnerships in Test cricket. 

This innings not only contributed significantly to the match but also left an enduring legacy in Australian cricket. The Test match resulted in a draw.

4. Glenn Turner, Terry Jarvis – 387 runs (New Zealand vs West Indies, Georgetown, 06-Apr-1972)

New Zealand’s Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis crafted a memorable partnership of 387 runs against the West Indies in Georgetown on April 6, 1972. 

This partnership was a display of classical batting technique and temperament. Turner, known for his elegance, and Jarvis, with his solid defense, complemented each other perfectly. 

Their partnership not only defied the West Indies’ formidable bowling attack but also showcased the ability of New Zealand batsmen to excel on the international stage. The Test match in Georgetown ended in a draw.

3. Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid – 410 runs (India vs Pakistan, Lahore, 13-Jan-2006)

The cricketing world witnessed fireworks in Lahore on January 13, 2006, as Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid combined forces to create a partnership for the ages. 

Scoring 410 runs against Pakistan, Sehwag’s flamboyance and Dravid’s solidity formed a perfect blend. 

Sehwag’s aggressive strokeplay and Dravid’s steadfast defense complemented each other, showcasing the diversity within India’s batting lineup. 

This partnership not only reflected the team’s resilience but also demonstrated the adaptability of the Indian batsmen across different playing conditions.

The Test match in Lahore concluded in a draw. Pakistan posted a mammoth first-innings total of 679/7 declared, and in reply, India scored 410/1 with Sehwag and Dravid leading the charge. The teams didn’t have sufficient time to force a result in the match.

2. Vinoo Mankad, Pankaj Roy – 413 runs (India vs New Zealand, Chennai, 06-Jan-1956)

In a Test match against New Zealand in Chennai on January 6, 1956, India’s Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy produced a batting masterclass, forming a partnership worth 413 runs. 

The innings was a testament to the classical style of batting, with both players displaying impeccable technique and concentration. 

Mankad and Roy’s partnership not only laid the foundation for India’s success in that particular match but also became a symbol of batting excellence, setting a high standard for generations to come.

India, batting first, amassed 537/3 declared, with Mankad and Roy’s partnership being the cornerstone. 

In reply, New Zealand scored 209 and 219 and India won the match by an innings and 109 runs.

1. Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith – 415 runs (South Africa vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 29-Feb-2008)

On February 29, 2008, in Chattogram, South Africa’s opening pair, Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith, etched their names into cricketing history by setting the record for the highest 1st wicket partnership in Test cricket. 

Against Bangladesh, the duo batted with remarkable tenacity, accumulating a staggering 415 runs. 

Their partnership not only showcased individual brilliance but also highlighted the synergy and understanding between the two batsmen. 

Both McKenzie and Smith exhibited a mix of aggression and resilience, leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing landscape.

South Africa, propelled by the historic partnership between Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith, posted a colossal first-innings total of 583/7 declared. 

Bangladesh responded with 259 in their first innings and 119 runs in the second innings. South Africa won the match easily by an innings and 205 runs.

List of the Highest 1st Wicket Partnerships In Test Cricket History

Sr. No.	Partners	Runs	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
1	Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith	415	South Africa	v Bangladesh	Chattogram	29-Feb-08
2	Vinoo Mankad, Pankaj Roy	413	India	v New Zealand	Chennai	6-Jan-56
3	Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid	410	India	v Pakistan	Lahore	13-Jan-06
4	Glenn Turner, Terry Jarvis	387	New Zealand	v West Indies	Georgetown	6-Apr-72
5	Bill Lawry, Bob Simpson	382	Australia	v West Indies	Bridgetown	5-May-65
6	Graeme Smith, Herschelle	368	South Africa	v Pakistan	Cape Town	2-Jan-03
7	Len Hutton, Cyril Washbrook	359	England	v South Africa	Johannesburg	27-Dec-48
8	Graeme Smith, Herschelle	338	South Africa	v England	Birmingham	24-Jul-03
9	Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul	336	West Indies	v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	4-Feb-23
10	Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya	335	Sri Lanka	v Pakistan	Kandy	28-Jun-00
11	GR Marsh, MA Taylor	329	Australia	v England	Nottingham	10-Aug-89
12	JB Hobbs, W Rhodes	323	England	v Australia	Melbourne	9-Feb-12
13	Mayank Agarwal, Rohi Sharma	317	India	v South Africa	Visakhapatnam	2-Oct-19
14	Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes	312	Bangladesh	v Pakistan	Khulna	28-Apr-15
15	Graeme Smith, Herschelle	301	South Africa	v West Indies	Centurion	16-Jan-04
16	CG Greenidge, DL Haynes	298	West Indies	v England	St John's	12-Apr-90
17	Aamer Sohail, Ijaz Ahmed	298	Pakistan	v West Indies	Karachi	6-Dec-97
18	CG Greenidge, DL Haynes	296	West Indies	v India	St John's	28-Apr-83
19	G Pullar, MC Cowdrey	290	England	v South Africa	The Oval	18-Aug-60
20	Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan	289	India	v Australia	Mohali	14-Mar-13
21	JB Hobbs, H Sutcliffe	283	England	v Australia	Melbourne	1-Jan-25
22	Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan	283	India	v Bangladesh	Fatullah	10-Jun-15
23	MS Atapattu, ST Jayasuriya	281	Sri Lanka	v Zimbabwe	Harare	6-May-04
24	Shan Masood, Abid Ali	278	Pakistan	v Sri Lanka	Karachi	19-Dec-19
25	CS Dempster, JE Mills	276	New Zealand	v England	Wellington	24-Jan-30
26	AFG Griffith, SL Campbell	276	West Indies	v New Zealand	Hamilton	16-Dec-99
27	ME Trescothick, AJ Strauss	273	England	v South Africa	Durban	26-Dec-04
28	MJ Slater, GS Blewett	269	Australia	v Pakistan	Brisbane	5-Nov-99
29	JB Hobbs, H Sutcliffe	268	England	v South Africa	Lord's	28-Jun-24
30	B Mitchell, IJ Siedle	260	South Africa	v England	Cape Town	1-Jan-31
31	MA Taylor, MJ Slater	260	Australia	v England	Lord's	17-Jun-93
32	HH Gibbs, G Kirsten	256	South Africa	v Zimbabwe	Harare	7-Sep-01
33	JL Langer, ML Hayden	255	Australia	v Sri Lanka	Cairns	9-Jul-04
34	CH Gayle, KOA Powell	254	West Indies	v New Zealand	North Sound	25-Jul-12
35	JA Raval, TWM Latham	254	New Zealand	v Bangladesh	Hamilton	28-Feb-19
36	Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq	252*	Pakistan	v Australia	Rawalpindi	4-Mar-22
37	CG Greenidge, DL Haynes	250*	West Indies	v Australia	Georgetown	2-Mar-84
38	Khalid Ibadulla, Abdul Kadir	249	Pakistan	v Australia	Karachi	24-Oct-64
39	AB de Villiers, GC Smith	245	South Africa	v West Indies	St John's	29-Apr-05
40	RB Simpson, WM Lawry	244	Australia	v England	Adelaide	28-Jan-66
41	D Elgar, AK Markram	243	South Africa	v Bangladesh	Bloemfontein	6-Oct-17
42	JL Langer, ML Hayden	242	Australia	v West Indies	St John's	9-May-03
43	AF Rae, JB Stollmeyer	239	West Indies	v India	Chennai	27-Jan-49
44	JA Burns, DA Warner	237	Australia	v New Zealand	Brisbane	5-Nov-15
45	AC Hudson, G Kirsten	236	South Africa	v India	Eden Gardens	27-Nov-96
46	G Boycott, RW Barber	234	England	v Australia	Sydney	7-Jan-66
47	WA Brown, JHW Fingleton	233	Australia	v South Africa	Cape Town	1-Jan-36
48	G Gambhir, V Sehwag	233	India	v Sri Lanka	Kanpur	24-Nov-09
49	Z Crawley, BM Duckett	233	England	v Pakistan	Rawalpindi	1-Dec-22
50	MH Richardson, L Vincent	231	New Zealand	v India	Mohali	16-Oct-03
51	ML Hayden, MEK Hussey	231	Australia	v West Indies	Hobart	17-Nov-05
52	AN Cook, NRD Compton	231	England	v New Zealand	Dunedin	6-Mar-13
53	AJ Strauss, AN Cook	229	England	v West Indies	Bridgetown	26-Feb-09
54	YBK Jaiswal, RG Sharma	229	India	v West Indies	Roseau	12-Jul-23
55	MJ Slater, MA Taylor	228	Australia	v Sri Lanka	Perth	8-Dec-95
56	KNM Fernando, FDM Karunaratne	228	Sri Lanka	v Ireland	Galle	24-Apr-23
57	CG Greenidge, DL Haynes	225	West Indies	v New Zealand	Christchurch	22-Feb-80
58	GA Gooch, MA Atherton	225	England	v India	Manchester	9-Aug-90
59	Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq	225	Pakistan	v England	Rawalpindi	1-Dec-22
60	JL Langer, ML Hayden	224	Australia	v New Zealand	Brisbane	8-Nov-01
61	Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes	224	Bangladesh	v Zimbabwe	Chattogram	12-Nov-14
62	G Fowler, CJ Tavare	223	England	v New Zealand	The Oval	14-Jul-83
63	BC Broad, CWJ Athey	223	England	v Australia	Perth	28-Nov-86
64	JL Langer, ML Hayden	223	Australia	v New Zealand	Hobart	22-Nov-01
65	PA Jaques, SM Katich	223	Australia	v West Indies	Bridgetown	12-Jun-08
66	DA Warner, JA Burns	222	Australia	v Pakistan	Brisbane	21-Nov-19
67	JB Hobbs, W Rhodes	221	England	v South Africa	Cape Town	11-Mar-10
68	M Vijay, V Sehwag	221	India	v Sri Lanka	Brabourne	2-Dec-09
69	CJ Barnett, L Hutton	219	England	v Australia	Nottingham	10-Jun-38
70	WM Lawry, IR Redpath	219	Australia	v South Africa	Melbourne	1-Jan-64
71	Mohammad Wasim, Imran Nazir	219	Pakistan	v West Indies	Bridgetown	18-May-00
72	JL Langer, ML Hayden	219	Australia	v South Africa	Sydney	2-Jan-02
73	V Sehwag, G Gambhir	218	India	v South Africa	Kanpur	20-Nov-04
74	DC Boon, GR Marsh	217	Australia	v India	Sydney	2-Jan-86
75	GC Smith, AB de Villiers	217	South Africa	v Zimbabwe	Cape Town	4-Mar-05
76	Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali	215	Pakistan	v West Indies	Dubai (DSC)	13-Oct-16
77	AR Morris, J Moroney	214	Australia	v South Africa	Johannesburg	10-Feb-50
78	CM Spearman, RG Twose	214	New Zealand	v Zimbabwe	Auckland	20-Jan-96
79	D Ganga, CH Gayle	214	West Indies	v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	19-Jul-01
80	EJM Cowan, DA Warner	214	Australia	v India	Perth	13-Jan-12
81	SM Gavaskar, CPS Chauhan	213	India	v England	The Oval	30-Aug-79
82	W Jaffer, V Sehwag	213	India	v South Africa	Chennai	26-Mar-08
83	RT Simpson, C Washbrook	212	England	v West Indies	Nottingham	20-Jul-50
84	G Boycott, DL Amiss	209	England	v West Indies	Port of Spain	2-Feb-74
85	FDM Karunaratne, HDRL Thirimanne	209	Sri Lanka	v Bangladesh	Pallekele	29-Apr-21
86	MA Taylor, MJ Slater	208	Australia	v England	Sydney	1-Jan-95
87	NT Paranavitana, TM Dilshan	207	Sri Lanka	v England	Lord's	3-Jun-11
88	RC Fredericks, LG Rowe	206	West Indies	v England	Kingston	16-Feb-74
89	Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez	205	Pakistan	v Australia	Dubai (DSC)	7-Oct-18
90	GA Gooch, MA Atherton	204	England	v India	Lord's	26-Jul-90
91	GC Smith, ND McKenzie	204	South Africa	v England	Lord's	10-Jul-08
92	VM Merchant, S Mushtaq Ali	203	India	v England	Manchester	25-Jul-36
93	GA Gooch, MA Atherton	203	England	v Australia	Adelaide	25-Jan-91
94	JL Langer, ML Hayden	202	Australia	v South Africa	Melbourne	26-Dec-01
95	WM Lawry, RB Simpson	201	Australia	v England	Manchester	23-Jul-64
96	SB Bangar, V Sehwag	201	India	v West Indies	Wankhede	9-Oct-02
97	SM Gavaskar, K Srikkanth	200	India	v Pakistan	Chennai	3-Feb-87
98	CJL Rogers, DA Warner	200	Australia	v India	Sydney	6-Jan-15

Data Source: ESPN Cricinfo