Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership in Test
The team’s top-order batsmen face a new cricket ball, which can be challenging. If a team loss their openers early, the 3rd wicket partnership helps stabilize the innings.
This partnership is crucial for setting up a good total. These batsmen aim to stay at the crease, score runs, navigate through challenging bowling spells, negotiate tricky conditions, counter the opposition’s strategies, and lay the foundation for the middle and lower-order batsmen to follow.
Forming a highest 3rd wicket partnership in test requires a combination of skill, patience, and teamwork from both batsmen.
The batsmen need to have a solid technique, good shot selection, and the ability to adapt to different bowling strategies.
They must also have a deep understanding of the game and be able to communicate effectively with each other to build a strong partnership.
Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership in Test | Top 10
Let’s explore the top 10 highest 3rd wicket partnerships in Test cricket:
10- Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq – 352 runs* partnership
Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq forged an unbeaten 352-run partnership against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 1999.
Their marathon stand underscored the batting prowess of the Pakistani middle order and Pakistan won the match confortably by an innings and 175 runs.
9- Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls – 363 runs Partnership
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls make their mark on the list with a 363-run partnership against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2023.
This partnership showcased the contemporary excellence of New Zealand’s batting lineup.
Because of the strong partnership, New Zealand won the match by an innings and 58 run.
8- Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf – 363 runs Partnership
The eighth spot is claimed by the Pakistani pair of Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, who combined for a formidable 363-run partnership against England at Leeds in 2006.
Despite this partnership, Pakistan lost the match by 157 runs.
7- Bill Edrich and Denis Compton – 370 runs partnership
The vintage partnership of Bill Edrich and Denis Compton in 1947 at Lord’s against South Africa takes the seventh position.
This partnership stood as a testament to the skill and determination of English batsmen in the post-war era.
Edrich and Compton’s partnership set a strong foundation and South Africa won the match by 10 wickets.
6- Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis – 377 runs* Partnership
The dynamic duo of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis occupies the sixth spot with their unbeaten 377-run partnership against England at The Oval in 2012.
Their partnership showcased the resilience and skill of South African batting against a formidable English bowling attack.
Due to the monumental partnership, South Africa scored a hunge total of 637/2d in their first innings and managed to win the match by an innings and 12 runs.
5- Qasim Umar and Javed Miandad – 397 runs partnership
Pakistan features once again in the top 10 with the partnership of Qasim Umar and Javed Miandad, who notched up an impressive 397 runs against Sri Lanka in Faisalabad in 1985.
This partnership was a testament to the batting prowess of the Pakistani duo. The match ended in a draw.
4- Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar – 429 runs* Partnership
South Africa’s Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar occupy the fourth spot with their unbeaten 429-run partnership against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
This record-breaking stand displayed the dominance of the South African batting lineup and left a lasting impact on the cricketing world.
South Africa’s imposing total of 470/2d set the stage for a dominant position, and they won the match by an innings and 60 runs.
3- Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad – 451 runs Partnership
The third spot is held by the Pakistani duo of Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad, who stitched together a magnificent 451-run partnership against India in Hyderabad (Sind) in 1983.
This partnership showcased the resilience of Pakistani batting, making it one of the memorable moments in Test cricket.
Pakistan won the match by an innings and 119 runs thanks to the third-wicket partnership, ensured a comfortable victory.
2- Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe – 467 runs Partnership
The year 1991 witnessed a formidable partnership between Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe of New Zealand.
Their epic 467-run stand against Sri Lanka in Wellington not only propelled the Kiwis to a commanding position but also left an indelible mark on the record books.
New Zealand scored 174 and 671/4 in their both innings. Jones and Crowe’s monumental partnership played a crucial role in the second innings. In reply Sri Lanka scored 497 runs and managed to draw the match.
1- Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene – 624 runs Partnership
In July 2006, the Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene etched their names in the annals of cricket history by amassing an astounding 624 runs against South Africa in Colombo.
Their partnership showcased a masterclass in batting, with both players displaying remarkable concentration and skill to thwart the South African bowling attack.
South Africa scored 169 and 434 and Sri Lanka posted a mammoth total of 756/5d in their first innings. Sri Lanka won the match convincingly by an innings and 153 runs.
List of All the Highest 3rd Wicket Partnerships in Test Cricket History:
Sr. No. | Partners | Runs | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
1 | Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene | 624 | Sri Lanka | v South Africa | Colombo (SSC) | 27-Jul-06 |
2 | Andrew Jones, Martin Crowe | 467 | New Zealand | v Sri Lanka | Wellington | 31-Jan-91 |
3 | Mudassar Nazar, Javed Miandad | 451 | Pakistan | v India | Hyderabad (Sind) | 14-Jan-83 |
4 | Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar | 429* | South Africa | v Bangladesh | Chattogram | 24-Apr-03 |
5 | Qasim Umar, Javed Miandad | 397 | Pakistan | v Sri Lanka | Faisalabad | 16-Oct-85 |
6 | Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis | 377* | South Africa | v England | The Oval | 19-Jul-12 |
7 | Bill Edrich, Denis Compton | 370 | England | v South Africa | Lord's | 21-Jun-47 |
8 | Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf | 363 | Pakistan | v England | Leeds | 4-Aug-06 |
9 | Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls | 363 | New Zealand | v Sri Lanka | Wellington | 17-Mar-23 |
10 | Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq | 352* | Pakistan | v Sri Lanka | Dhaka | 12-Mar-99 |
11 | Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen | 350 | England | v India | The Oval | 18-Aug-11 |
12 | EJ Barlow, RG Pollock | 341 | South Africa | v Australia | Adelaide | 24-Jan-64 |
13 | Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis | 340 | South Africa | v India | Nagpur | 6-Feb-10 |
14 | ED Weekes, FMM Worrell | 338 | West Indies | v England | Port of Spain | 17-Mar-54 |
15 | Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar | 336 | India | v Pakistan | Multan | 28-Mar-04 |
16 | Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis | 330 | South Africa | v New Zealand | Johannesburg | 8-Nov-07 |
17 | DM Bravo, MN Samuels | 326 | West Indies | v Bangladesh | Khulna | 21-Nov-12 |
18 | Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq | 324 | Pakistan | v India | Bengaluru | 24-Mar-05 |
19 | Aamer Sohail, Inzamam-ul-Haq | 323 | Pakistan | v West Indies | Rawalpindi | 29-Nov-97 |
20 | A Melville, AD Nourse | 319 | South Africa | v England | Nottingham | 7-Jun-47 |
21 | Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf | 319 | Pakistan | v India | Lahore | 13-Jan-06 |
22 | GR Viswanath, Yashpal Sharma | 316 | India | v England | Chennai | 13-Jan-82 |
23 | RT Ponting, DS Lehmann | 315 | Australia | v West Indies | Port of Spain | 19-Apr-03 |
24 | KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene | 311 | Sri Lanka | v Bangladesh | Kandy | 11-Jul-07 |
25 | RB Richardson, IVA Richards | 308 | West Indies | v Australia | St John's | 7-Apr-84 |
26 | GA Gooch, AJ Lamb | 308 | England | v India | Lord's | 26-Jul-90 |
27 | M Vijay, SR Tendulkar | 308 | India | v Australia | Bengaluru | 9-Oct-10 |
28 | IVA Richards, AI Kallicharran | 303 | West Indies | v England | Nottingham | 3-Jun-76 |
29 | MA Atherton, RA Smith | 303 | England | v West Indies | St John's | 16-Apr-94 |
30 | CC McDonald, RN Harvey | 295 | Australia | v West Indies | Kingston | 11-Jun-55 |
31 | RB Richardson, BC Lara | 293 | West Indies | v Australia | Sydney | 2-Jan-93 |
32 | HM Amla, JP Duminy | 292 | South Africa | v Sri Lanka | Johannesburg | 12-Jan-17 |
33 | JA Burns, SPD Smith | 289 | Australia | v New Zealand | Christchurch | 20-Feb-16 |
34 | M Vijay, V Kohli | 283 | India | v Sri Lanka | Delhi | 2-Dec-17 |
35 | DG Bradman, AL Hassett | 276 | Australia | v England | Brisbane | 29-Nov-46 |
36 | SM Nurse, RB Kanhai | 273 | West Indies | v England | Port of Spain | 14-Mar-68 |
37 | ME Trescothick, GP Thorpe | 268 | England | v South Africa | The Oval | 4-Sep-03 |
38 | MP Vaughan, GP Thorpe | 267 | England | v Pakistan | Manchester | 31-May-01 |
39 | KS Williamson, LRPL Taylor | 265 | New Zealand | v Australia | Perth | 13-Nov-15 |
40 | L Hutton, WR Hammond | 264 | England | v West Indies | The Oval | 19-Aug-39 |
41 | IM Chappell, GS Chappell | 264 | Australia | v New Zealand | Wellington | 1-Mar-74 |
42 | WR Hammond, DR Jardine | 262 | England | v Australia | Adelaide | 1-Feb-29 |
43 | TT Samaraweera, DPMD Jayawardene | 262 | Sri Lanka | v England | Colombo (SSC) | 18-Dec-03 |
44 | KS Williamson, LRPL Taylor | 262 | New Zealand | v Sri Lanka | Colombo (PSS) | 25-Nov-12 |
45 | AN Cook, JE Root | 259 | England | v India | The Oval | 7-Sep-18 |
46 | SC Ganguly, SR Tendulkar | 255 | India | v England | Nottingham | 4-Jul-96 |
47 | HH Gibbs, JH Kallis | 251 | South Africa | v West Indies | Cape Town | 2-Jan-04 |
48 | AN Cook, IJL Trott | 251 | England | v Sri Lanka | Cardiff | 26-May-11 |
49 | M Labuschagne, SPD Smith | 251 | Australia | v West Indies | Perth | 30-Nov-22 |
50 | Azhar Ali, Younis Khan | 250 | Pakistan | v Bangladesh | Mirpur | 6-May-15 |
51 | D Elgar, JP Duminy | 250 | South Africa | v Australia | Perth | 3-Nov-16 |
Data Source: ESPN Cricinfo