Highest 2nd Wicket Partnership in Test

The 2nd wicket partnership in test is crucial for stabilizing the team’s innings. If the first wicket falls early, the 2nd wicket pair needs to build a strong partnership to steady the ship and prevent further quick wickets and the highest 2nd wicket partnership in Test showcase exceptional batting performances. 

These records are significant because they highlight the ability of two batsmen to work together effectively, demonstrating skill, endurance, and teamwork.

How to Build the Highest 2nd Wicket Partnership in Test?

To build the highest 2nd wicket partnership in Test cricket, batsmen need a mix of skill, patience, and teamwork. Let’s look at some simple ways to achieve this.

Communication: Batsmen need to talk to each other a lot. They should discuss things like which bowlers to watch out for, whether the pitch is doing anything unusual, and how they can support each other.

Understanding Roles: Each batsman has a role. One might be more aggressive, while the other plays a supporting role. It’s essential to know your strengths and play to them, making sure you complement each other.

Patience: Test matches can last for five days. There’s no rush. Batsmen need to be patient and wait for the right balls to score off. Not every ball needs to be hit for a boundary.

Respecting Good Deliveries: Good bowlers will bowl good balls. Batsmen should respect those deliveries and not take unnecessary risks. It’s okay to defend when the ball is tough to score from.

Rotating the Strike: Keep the scoreboard ticking by taking singles and rotating the strike. This not only adds runs but also puts pressure on the bowlers.

Adapting to Conditions: The pitch and weather can change during a Test match. Batsmen should adapt their game accordingly. If the pitch is slow, be prepared to play the waiting game; if it’s quick, be ready to defend well.

Highest 2nd Wicket Partnership in Test | Top 10

10- Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar – 344 runs:* Partnership:

The Indian duo of Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar made an unbeaten 2nd wicket partnership of 344 runs against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on December 29, 1978. 

Their resilience and determination against a formidable West Indies bowling attack make this partnership a cherished moment in Indian cricket history.

India scored 300 runs their first innings and declared their second innings at 361/1d with Gavaskar and Vengsarkar at the forefront. 

West Indies, in response, scored 327 and 197/9 and despite being in a position to force a result, West Indies managed to draw the match.

9- Graham Gooch and David Gower – 351 runs Partnership:

In a classic encounter against Australia at The Oval on August 29, 1985, English batsmen Graham Gooch and David Gower combined to produce a remarkable 2nd wicket partnership of 351 runs. 

This partnership remains etched in the memories of cricket enthusiasts as a testament to English batting excellence.

England scored 464 runs in their first innings, with Gooch and Gower leading the way.

Australia scored 241 and 129 in their both innings. England won the match by an innings and 94 runs.

8- David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne – 361 runs Partnershp:

Australian openers David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne displayed their dominance in a Test against Pakistan in Adelaide on November 29, 2019. 

Their partnership of 361 runs showcased the modern-day dynamism of Australian cricket.

Australia declared at 589/3 with Warner and Labuschagne playing key roles. Pakistan responded with 302 and, in the second innings, with 239. Australi won that match easily by an innings and 48 runs.

7- John Edrich and Ken Barrington – 369 runs Partnership:

During a Test match against New Zealand in Leeds on July 8, 1965, the English pairing of John Edrich and Ken Barrington crafted a partnership of 369 runs for the 2nd wicket. 

England declared at 546/4 in their first innings, with Edrich and Barrington leading the charge. 

New Zealand replied with 193 and 166 and England managed to win the match quit comfortably by an innings and 187 runs.

6- Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara – 370 runs Partnership:

The Indian duo of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara showcased their batting prowess in a Test match against Australia in Hyderabad on March 2, 2013. 

Their resilient 2nd wicket partnership of 370 runs not only bolstered India’s innings but also showcased the tenacity and skill of these two accomplished batsmen.

India won the match by an innings and 135 runs. Vijay and Pujara’s partnership was crucial as India posted 503/3 declared. 

Australia, in response, could only manage 237/9d and 131, giving India a comprehensive victory.

5- Len Hutton and Maurice Leyland – 382 runs Partnership:

English cricket legends Len Hutton and Maurice Leyland etched their names in history with a stellar 2nd wicket partnership of 382 runs against Australia at The Oval on August 20, 1938.

This partnership played a pivotal role in England’s success and remains a cherished memory in the annals of Test cricket.

England declared at 903/7 in their first innings, with Hutton and Leyland contributing significantly. 

Australia replied with 201 and 123 and England won the match by an innings and 579 runs.

4- Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara – 438 runs Partenrship:

Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara created a formidable 2nd wicket partnership of 438 runs. 

This feat occurred during a Test match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on May 14, 2004, showcasing the resilience and class of these two Sri Lankan batting stalwarts.

Sri Lanka declared at 713/3 with Atapattu and Sangakkara featuring prominently. Zimbabwe responded with 228 and 231 in their two innings. Sri Lanka won that match comfortably by an innings and 254 runs.

3- Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers – 446 runs Partnership:

The West Indies witnessed an extraordinary 2nd wicket partnership between Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers, amassing 446 runs against Pakistan in Kingston on February 26, 1958. 

This partnership not only solidified the dominance of West Indies cricket but also highlighted the individual brilliance of Hunte and Sobers.

West Indies amassed 790/3 declared in their first innings, with Hunte and Sobers leading the charge. 

Pakistan replied with 328 and 288, and West Indies managed to won the match by an innings and 174 runs.

2- Bill Ponsford, Don Bradman – 451 runs Partnership:

In a testament to the golden era of Australian cricket, Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman forged a remarkable 2nd wicket partnership of 451 runs against England at The Oval on August 18, 1934. 

The duo’s masterclass showcased their batting prowess and contributed significantly to Australia’s success during that era.

Australia won the match by 562 runs. Ponsford and Bradman’s monumental partnership played a pivotal role as Australia scored 701 runs in their first innings and 327 in their second innings.

England, in response, could only manage 321 and 145 in their two innings.

1- Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama – 576 runs Partnership:

The record for the highest 2nd wicket partnership in Test cricket belongs to the Sri Lankan duo of Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama. 

This historic partnership unfolded during the Test match against India in Colombo (RPS) on August 2, 1997. 

Their monumental stand of 576 runs set a benchmark that still stands strong today, reflecting the sheer dominance and resilience of these two prolific batsmen.

Sri Lanka posted a mammoth total of 952/6 in their first innings. India responded with 537 and, despite the substantial deficit, managed to hold on for a draw in the second innings.

List of All the Highest 2nd Wicket Partnerships in Test Cricket History

Sr. No.	Partners	Runs	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
1	Sanath Jayasuriya, Roshan Mahanama	576	Sri Lanka	v India	Colombo (RPS)	2-Aug-97
2	Bill Ponsford, Don Bradman	451	Australia	v England	The Oval	18-Aug-34
3	Conrad Hunte, Garry Sobers	446	West Indies	v Pakistan	Kingston	26-Feb-58
4	Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara	438	Sri Lanka	v Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	14-May-04
5	Len Hutton, Maurice Leyland	382	England	v Australia	The Oval	20-Aug-38
6	Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara	370	India	v Australia	Hyderabad	2-Mar-13
7	John Edrich, Ken Barrington	369	England	v New Zealand	Leeds	8-Jul-65
8	David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne	361	Australia	v Pakistan	Adelaide	29-Nov-19
9	Graham Gooch, David Gower	351	England	v Australia	The Oval	29-Aug-85
10	Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar	344*	India	v West Indies	Eden Gardens	29-Dec-78
11	RT Robinson, DI Gower	331	England	v Australia	Birmingham	15-Aug-85
12	CH Gayle, RR Sarwan	331	West Indies	v South Africa	St John's	29-Apr-05
13	AN Cook, IJL Trott	329*	England	v Australia	Brisbane	25-Nov-10
14	HH Gibbs, JH Kallis	315*	South Africa	v New Zealand	Christchurch	11-Mar-99
15	G Gambhir, R Dravid	314	India	v England	Mohali	19-Dec-08
16	BKG Mendis, DM de Silva	308	Sri Lanka	v Bangladesh	Chattogram	31-Jan-18
17	DA Warner, UT Khawaja	302	Australia	v New Zealand	Perth	13-Nov-15
18	AR Morris, DG Bradman	301	Australia	v England	Leeds	22-Jul-48
19	WM Lawry, IM Chappell	298	Australia	v West Indies	Melbourne	26-Dec-68
20	DL Haynes, RB Richardson	297	West Indies	v Australia	Georgetown	23-Mar-91
21	BB McCullum, KS Williamson	297	New Zealand	v Pakistan	Sharjah	26-Nov-14
22	Zaheer Abbas, Mushtaq Mohammad	291	Pakistan	v England	Birmingham	3-Jun-71
23	AJ Strauss, RWT Key	291	England	v West Indies	Lord's	22-Jul-04
24	CG Greenidge, HA Gomes	287*	West Indies	v England	Lord's	28-Jun-84
25	Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali	287	Pakistan	v Sri Lanka	Colombo (SSC)	30-Jun-12
26	CJL Rogers, SPD Smith	284	Australia	v England	Lord's	16-Jul-15
27	FDM Karunaratne, BKG Mendis	281	Sri Lanka	v Ireland	Galle	16-Apr-23
28	PA Gibb, WJ Edrich	280	England	v South Africa	Durban	3-Mar-39
29	MA Taylor, JL Langer	279	Australia	v Pakistan	Peshawar	15-Oct-98
30	RB McCosker, IM Chappell	277	Australia	v England	The Oval	28-Aug-75
31	CC McDonald, AL Hassett	275	Australia	v South Africa	Adelaide	24-Jan-53
32	WM Woodfull, DG Bradman	274	Australia	v South Africa	Melbourne	31-Dec-31
33	GC Smith, G Kirsten	272	South Africa	v Bangladesh	East London	18-Oct-02
34	ML Hayden, RT Ponting	272	Australia	v England	Brisbane	7-Nov-02
35	GS Sobers, CL Walcott	269	West Indies	v Pakistan	Georgetown	13-Mar-58
36	RC Fredericks, LG Rowe	269	West Indies	v New Zealand	Kingston	16-Feb-72
37	V Sehwag, R Dravid	268	India	v South Africa	Chennai	26-Mar-08
38	KNM Fernando, BKG Mendis	268	Sri Lanka	v Ireland	Galle	24-Apr-23
39	PE Richardson, TW Graveney	266	England	v West Indies	Nottingham	4-Jul-57
40	MA Atherton, GA Gooch	263	England	v New Zealand	Nottingham	2-Jun-94
41	Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmed	262	Pakistan	v New Zealand	Rawalpindi	28-Nov-96
42	WB Phillips, GN Yallop	259	Australia	v Pakistan	Perth	11-Nov-83
43	G Gambhir, R Dravid	259	India	v Bangladesh	Chattogram	17-Dec-04
44	GC Smith, HM Amla	259	South Africa	v England	The Oval	19-Jul-12
45	JA Burns, UT Khawaja	258	Australia	v West Indies	Melbourne	26-Dec-15
46	GC Smith, G Kirsten	257	South Africa	v England	Lord's	31-Jul-03
47	EDAS McMorris, RB Kanhai	255	West Indies	v India	Kingston	7-Mar-62
48	ME Trescothick, MP Vaughan	255	England	v Bangladesh	Lord's	26-May-05
49	S Dhawan, CA Pujara	253	India	v Sri Lanka	Galle	26-Jul-17
50	BM Duckett, OJ Pope	252	England	v Ireland	Lord's	1-Jun-23
51	Mudassar Nazar, Qasim Umar	250	Pakistan	v India	Faisalabad	24-Oct-84

Data Source: ESPN Cricinfo