List of Test cricket records

Test cricket is played between international cricket teams who are Full Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).[1] Unlike One Day Internationals, Test matches consist of two innings per team, with no limit in the number of overs.[2] Test cricket is first-class cricket, so statistics and records set in Test matches are also counted toward first-class records. The duration of Tests, currently limited to five days, has varied through Test history, ranging from three days to timeless matches.[3][4] The earliest match now recognised as a Test was played between England and Australia in March 1877;[5] since then there have been over 2,000 Tests played by 13 teams. The frequency of Tests has steadily increased partly because of the increase in the number of Test-playing countries, and partly as cricket boards seek to maximise their revenue.[6]

Donald Bradman wearing a black shirt and a dark cap
Donald Bradman, holder of several Test batting records including highest batting average
Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test cricket
Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket
George Lohmann is the holder of best bowling average in Test cricket

Cricket is, by its nature, capable of generating large numbers of records and statistics.[7] This list details the most significant team and individual records in Test cricket.

As of February 2023, the most successful team in Test cricket, in terms of both wins and win percentage, is Australia, having won 404 of their 851 Tests (47.47%). Excluding teams who have only played a small number of Tests, the least successful team are Bangladesh.

Australian Donald Bradman, widely considered the greatest batsman of all time,[8][9] holds several personal and partnership records. He scored the most runs in a series, has the most double centuries and was a part of the record 5th wicket partnership. His most significant record is his batting average of 99.94. One of cricket's most famous statistics,[10][11] it still stands almost 40 runs higher than any other batsman's career average. Don Bradman is the only player in the world to have scored 5000 runs against a single opposition: 5028 runs against England.[12]

In the Manchester Test of 1956, England spin bowler Jim Laker took 19 wickets for 90 runs (19–90) which set not only the Test record for best match figures but also the first-class one.[13] In taking 10–53 in the second innings he became the first bowler to capture ten wickets in a Test match innings, and his analysis remains the best innings figures. Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble was the second bowler to take 10 wickets in an innings, claiming 10–74 against Pakistan in 1999.[14] In December 2021, New Zealand spinner, Ajaz Patel became the third bowler to take 10 wickets in an innings.[15] West Indies batsman Brian Lara has the highest individual score in Test cricket: he scored 400 not out against England in 2004 to surpass the innings of 380 by Matthew Hayden six months earlier. Lara had held the record before Hayden, with a score of 375 against England 10 years earlier.[16] Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record of the fastest Test half century, scoring 50 runs from 21 balls. The record for the fastest Test century is held by New Zealand's Brendon McCullum, who scored 100 runs from 54 balls in his final Test match.

The trend of countries playing more Test matches in the modern era means that the aggregate lists are dominated by modern players. Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan became the highest Test wicket-taker in December 2007, when he passed Shane Warne's total of 708 wickets.[17] Within a year, the equivalent batting record of highest run-scorer had also changed hands: Sachin Tendulkar surpassed the tally of 11,953 runs by Brian Lara.[18] The record for most dismissals by a wicket-keeper is held by Mark Boucher of South Africa[19] while the record for most catches by a fielder is held by Rahul Dravid.[20]

Listing criteria

In general the top five are listed in each category (except when there is a tie for the last place among the five, when all the tied record holders are noted).

Listing notation

Team notation
  • (300–3) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets and the innings was closed, either due to a successful run chase or if no playing time remained
  • (300–3 d) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets, and declared its innings closed
  • (300) indicates that a team scored 300 runs and was all out
Batting notation
  • (100) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was out
  • (100*) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was not out
Bowling notation
  • (5–100) indicates that a bowler has captured 5 wickets while conceding 100 runs
Currently playing
  • † indicates a current Test cricketer
Seasons
  • Domestic cricket seasons in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the West Indies may span two calendar years, and are by convention said to be played in (e.g.) "2008–09". A cricket season in England is described as a single year. e.g. "2009". An international Test series may be for a much shorter duration, and Cricinfo treats this issue by stating "any series or matches which began between May and September of any given year will appear in the relevant single year season and any that began between October and April will appear in the relevant cross-year season".[21] In the record tables, a two-year span generally indicates that the record was set within a domestic season in one of the above named countries.

Team records

Team wins, losses and draws

TeamFirst Test matchMatchesWonLostTiedDrawn% Won
 Afghanistan14 June 20189360033.33
 Australia15 March 1877866414232221847.80
 Bangladesh10 November 20001421910501813.38
 England15 March 18771,071392324035536.60
 India25 June 1932579178178122230.74
 Ireland11 May 20188170012.50
 New Zealand10 January 1930470115185017024.46
 Pakistan16 October 1952456148142016632.45
 South Africa12 March 1889464178161012538.36
 Sri Lanka17 February 198231610312109232.59
 West Indies23 June 1928575183210118131.82
 Zimbabwe18 October 1992117137502911.11
ICC World XI14 October 2005101000.00

Last updated: 3 April 2024[22]

Result records

Greatest win margins (by innings)

MarginTeamsVenueSeason
Innings and 579 runs  England (903–7 d) beat  Australia (201 & 123)The Oval, London1938
Innings and 360 runs  Australia (652–7 d) beat  South Africa (159 & 133)New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg2001–02
Innings and 336 runs  West Indies (614–5 d) beat  India (124 & 154)Eden Gardens, Kolkata1958–59
Innings and 332 runs  Australia (645) beat  England (141 & 172)Brisbane Cricket Ground1946–47
Innings and 324 runs  Pakistan (643) beat  New Zealand (73 & 246)Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore2002

Last updated: 18 December 2019[23]

Greatest win margin (by runs)

MarginTeamsVenueSeason
675 runs  England (521 & 342–8 d) beat  Australia (122 & 66)Brisbane Exhibition Ground1928–29
562 runs  Australia (701 & 327) beat  England (321 & 145)The Oval, London1934
546 runs  Bangladesh (382 & 425-4 d) beat  Afghanistan (146 & 115)Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka2023
530 runs  Australia (328 & 578) beat  South Africa (205 & 171)Melbourne Cricket Ground1910–11
492 runs  South Africa (488 & 344–6 d) beat  Australia (221 & 119)Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg2018

Last updated: 3 April 2018[24]

Matches that finished with scores level

ResultTeamsVenueSeason
Tie  Australia (505 & 232) vs  West Indies (453 & 284)The Gabba1960–61
Tie  India (397 & 347) vs  Australia (574–7 d & 170–5 d)MA Chidambaram Stadium, Madras1986–87
Draw  Zimbabwe (376 & 234) vs  England (406 & 204–5)Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo1996–97
Draw  India (482 & 242–9) vs  West Indies (590 & 134)Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai2011–12

Last updated: 8 January 2021[25][26][27]

Narrowest win margin (by wickets)

MarginTeamsVenueSeason
1 wicket  England (183 & 263–9) beat  Australia (324 & 121)The Oval, London1902
 South Africa (91 & 287–9) beat  England (184 & 190)Old Wanderers, Johannesburg1905–06
 England (382 & 282–9) beat  Australia (266 & 397)Melbourne Cricket Ground1907–08
 England (183 & 173–9) beat  South Africa (113 & 242)Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town1922–23
 Australia (216 & 260–9) beat  West Indies (272 & 203)Melbourne Cricket Ground1951–52
 New Zealand (249 & 104–9) beat  West Indies (140 & 212)Carisbrook, Dunedin1979–80
 Pakistan (256 & 315–9) beat  Australia (337 & 232)National Stadium, Karachi1994–95
 West Indies (329 & 311–9) beat  Australia (490 & 146)Kensington Oval, Bridgetown1998–99
 West Indies (273 & 216–9) beat  Pakistan (269 & 219)Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John's1999–00
 Pakistan (175 & 262–9) beat  Bangladesh (281 & 154)Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium, Multan2003
 Sri Lanka (321 & 352–9) beat  South Africa (361 & 311)Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo2006
 India (405 & 216–9) beat  Australia (428 & 192)Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali2010–11
 Sri Lanka (191 & 304–9) beat  South Africa (235 & 259)Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban2018–19
 England (67 & 362–9) beat  Australia (179 & 246)Headingley, Leeds2019
 West Indies (253 & 168–9) beat  Pakistan (217 & 203)Sabina Park, Kingston2021

Last updated: 15 August 2021[28]

Narrowest win margin (by runs)

MarginTeamsVenueSeason
1 run  West Indies (252 & 146) beat  Australia (213 & 184)Adelaide Oval1992–93
 New Zealand (209 & 483) beat  England (435 & 256)Basin Reserve, Wellington2022–23
2 runs  England (407 & 182) beat  Australia (308 & 279)Edgbaston, Birmingham2005
3 runs  Australia (299 & 86) beat  England (262 & 120)Old Trafford, Manchester1902
 England (284 & 294) beat  Australia (287 & 288)Melbourne Cricket Ground1982–83

Last updated: 28 February 2023[29]

Victory after following-on

MarginTeamsVenueSeason
1 run  New Zealand (209 & 483) beat  England (435 & 256)Basin Reserve, Wellington2022–23
10 runs  England (325 & 437) beat  Australia (586 & 166)Sydney Cricket Ground1894–95
18 runs  England (174 & 356) beat  Australia (401–9 d & 111)Headingley, Leeds1981
171 runs  India (171 & 657–7 d) beat  Australia (445 & 212)Eden Gardens, Kolkata2000–01

Last updated: 28 February 2023[30]

Most consecutive wins

WinsTeamFirst winLast win
16  Australia  Zimbabwe at Harare, 14 October 1999  India at Mumbai, 27 February 2001
 South Africa at Melbourne, 26 December 2005  India at Sydney, 2 January 2008
11  West Indies  Australia at Bridgetown, 30 March 1984  Australia at Adelaide, 7 December 1984
9  Sri Lanka  India at Colombo, 29 August 2001  Pakistan at Lahore, 6 March 2002
 South Africa  Australia at Durban, 15 March 2002  Bangladesh at Dhaka, 1 May 2003

Last updated: 15 June 2016[31]

Team scoring records

Most runs in an innings

ScoreTeamsVenueSeason
952–6 d  Sri Lanka (v  India)Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium, Colombo1997
903–7 d  England (v  Australia)The Oval, London1938
849  England (v  West Indies)Sabina Park, Kingston1929–30
790–3 d  West Indies (v  Pakistan)1957–58
765–6 d  Pakistan (v  Sri Lanka)National Stadium, Karachi2008–09

Last updated: 14 September 2017[32]

Fewest runs in a completed innings

RunsTeamsVenueDate
26  New Zealand (v  England)Eden Park, Auckland25 March 1955
30  South Africa (v  England)St George's Park, Port Elizabeth13 February 1896
 South Africa (v  England)Edgbaston, Birmingham14 June 1924
35  South Africa (v  England)Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town1 April 1899
36  South Africa (v  Australia)Melbourne Cricket Ground12 February 1932
 Australia (v  England)Edgbaston, Birmingham29 May 1902
 India (v  Australia)Adelaide Oval, Adelaide17 December 2020

Last updated: 19 December 2020[33]

Highest fourth-innings totals to win

ScoreTeamsVenueSeason
418–7  West Indies (v  Australia)Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John's2002–03
414–4  South Africa (v  Australia)WACA Ground, Perth2008–09
406–4  India (v  West Indies)Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain1975–76
404–3  Australia (v  England)Headingley, Leeds1948
395–7  West Indies (v  Bangladesh)Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong2020–21

Last updated: 16 August 2023[34]

Aggregate scoring records

Highest match aggregate

ScoreTeamsVenueSeason
1981–35  South Africa (530 & 481) v  England (316 & 654–5)Kingsmead, Durban1938–39
1815–34  West Indies (849 & 272–9 d) v  England (286 & 408–5)Sabina Park, Kingston1929–30
1768–37  Pakistan (579 & 268) v  England (657 & 264–7 d)Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium2022–23
1764–39  Australia (533 & 339–9) v  West Indies (276 & 616)Adelaide Oval1968–69
1753–40  Australia (354 & 582) v  England (447 & 370)Adelaide Oval1920–21
Last updated: 29 December 2022[35]

Individual records

Individual records (batting)

Career runs

Most career runs

RunsInningsPlayerPeriod
15,921329 Sachin Tendulkar1989–2013
13,378287 Ricky Ponting1995–2012
13,289280 Jacques Kallis1995–2013
13,288286 Rahul Dravid1996–2012
12,472291 Alastair Cook2006–2018

Last updated: 11 September 2018[36]

Most career runs – progression of record

RunsPlayerRecord held untilDuration of recordNo of test record held
239 Charles Bannerman4 January 18824 years, 295 days4
676 George Ulyett[a]13 August 18842 years, 222 days11
860 Billy Murdoch[b]14 August 18862 years, 1 day8
1,277 Arthur Shrewsbury23 January 190215 years, 162 days43
1,293 Joe Darling[c]18 February 190226 days1
1,366 Syd Gregory[d]14 June 1902116 days3
1,531 Archie MacLaren[e]13 August 190260 days3
3,412 Clem Hill27 December 192422 years, 136 days84
5,410 Jack Hobbs29 June 193712 years, 184 days102
7,249 Wally Hammond27 November 197033 years, 151 days414
7,459 Colin Cowdrey[f]23 March 19721 year, 117 days21
8,032 Garfield Sobers23 December 19819 years, 275 days219
8,114 Geoffrey Boycott12 November 19831 year, 324 days53
10,122 Sunil Gavaskar25 February 19939 years, 105 days248
11,174 Allan Border25 November 200512 years, 273 days558
11,953 Brian Lara17 October 20082 years, 327 days116
15,921 Sachin Tendulkarcurrent15 years, 193 days
Last updated: 15 June 2016[37]

Most runs at each batting position

Batting positionPlayerRunsAverage at the position
Opener Alastair Cook11,84544.87
Number 3 Kumar Sangakkara11,67960.83
Number 4 Sachin Tendulkar13,49254.40
Number 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul6,88356.42
Number 6 Ben Stokes3,77835.64
Number 7 Adam Gilchrist3,94846.45
Number 8 Daniel Vettori2,22739.77
Number 9 Stuart Broad1,38919.84
Number 10 Stuart Broad82512.69
Number 11 James Anderson6877.72

Last updated: 11 March 2024 [38]

Highest career batting average

AverageInningsPlayerPeriod
99.9480 Donald Bradman1928–1948
62.1520 Harry Brook2022–2023
61.8731 Adam Voges2015–2016
60.9741 Graeme Pollock1963–1970
60.8340 George Headley1930–1954
Last updated: 19 February 2023[39]
Qualification: At least 20 innings.

Note: If the qualification is removed, the record Test batting average is Australian Kurtis Patterson's 144.00; Patterson made scores of 30 and 114 not out in his only two Test innings.[40] A very few one-Test wonders have never been dismissed, leaving them without a defined Test batting average. Notable players who played only a single Test innings without a dismissal are Stuart Law (54*, innings declared) and Andy Lloyd (10*, retired hurt).[41][42]

Series

Most runs in a series
RunsPlayerSeries
974 (7 innings) Don Bradmanv  England, 1930
905 (9 innings) Wally Hammondv  Australia, 1928–29
839 (11 innings) Mark Taylorv  England, 1989
834 (9 innings) Neil Harveyv  South Africa, 1952–53
829 (7 innings) Viv Richardsv  England, 1976

Last updated: 15 June 2016[43]

Innings

Brian Lara was the first to score 400 in International Cricket
Highest individual score
ScorePlayerOpponentVenueSeason
400* Brian Lara  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's2003–04
380 Matthew Hayden  ZimbabweWACA Ground, Perth2003–04
375 Brian Lara  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's1993–94
374 Mahela Jayawardene  South AfricaSinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo2006
365* Garfield Sobers  PakistanSabina Park, Kingston1957–58

Last updated: 15 June 2015[44]

Highest individual score – progression of record
ScorePlayerOpponentVenueSeasonTest match Number
165*[a] Charles Bannerman  EnglandMelbourne Cricket Ground1876–77Test No. 1
211 Billy Murdoch  EnglandThe Oval, London1884Test No. 16
287 R. E. Foster  AustraliaSydney Cricket Ground1903–04Test No. 78
325 Andy Sandham  West IndiesSabina Park, Kingston1929–30Test No. 193
334 Don Bradman  EnglandHeadingley, Leeds1930Test No. 196
336* Wally Hammond  New ZealandEden Park, Auckland1932–33Test No. 226
364 Len Hutton  AustraliaThe Oval, London1938Test No. 266
365* Garfield Sobers  PakistanSabina Park, Kingston1957–58Test No. 452
375 Brian Lara  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's1993–94Test No. 1259
380 Matthew Hayden  ZimbabweWACA Ground, Perth2003–04Test No. 1661
400* Brian Lara  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's2003–04Test No. 1696

Last updated: 15 June 2016[45]

Most runs in a match
RunsScoresPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
456333 and 123 Graham Gooch  IndiaLord's1990
426334* and 92 Mark Taylor  PakistanPeshawar1998–99
424319 and 105 Kumar Sangakkara  BangladeshChittagong2013–14
400400* Brian Lara  EnglandSt John's, Antigua2003–04
380247* and 133 Greg Chappell  New ZealandWellington1973–74
380 Matthew Hayden  ZimbabwePerth2003–04

Last updated: 15 June 2016[46]

Innings as captain
Highest individual score as captain
ScorePlayerOpponentVenueSeason
400* Brian Lara  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's2003–04
374 Mahela Jayawardene  South AfricaSinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo2006
334* Mark Taylor  PakistanArbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar1998
333 Graham Gooch  IndiaLord's, London1990
329* Michael Clarke  IndiaSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney2012

Last updated: 15 June 2015[47]

Innings carrying the bat
Highest individual score
ScorePlayerOpponentVenueSeason
264* Tom Latham  Sri LankaBasin Reserve, Wellington2018–19
244* Alastair Cook  AustraliaMelbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne2017–18
223* Glenn Turner  West IndiesSabina Park, Kingston1972
216* Marvan Atapattu  ZimbabweQueens Sports Club, Bulawayo1999–00
206* Bill Brown  EnglandLord's, London1931

Last updated: 8 January 2019[48]

Calendar year

Most runs in a calendar year
RunsPlayerAverageYear
1788 Mohammad Yousuf99.332006
1710 Viv Richards90.001976
1708 Joe Root61.002021
1656 Graeme Smith72.002008
1595 Michael Clarke106.332012

Last updated: 31 December 2021[49]

Highest scores at each batting position

Batting positionPlayerScoreOpponentVenueDate
Opener Matthew Hayden380  ZimbabweWACA Ground9 October 2003
Number 3 Brian Lara400*  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground10 April 2004
Number 4 Mahela Jayawardene374  South AfricaSinhalese Sports Club Ground27 July 2006
Number 5 Michael Clarke329*  IndiaSydney Cricket Ground3 January 2012
Number 6 Ben Stokes258  South AfricaNewlands Cricket Ground2 January 2016
Number 7 Don Bradman270  EnglandMelbourne Cricket Ground1 January 1937
Number 8 Wasim Akram257*  ZimbabweSheikhupura Stadium17 October 1996
Number 9 Ian Smith173  IndiaEden Park22 February 1990
Number 10 Walter Read117  AustraliaKennington Oval11 August 1884
Number 11 Ashton Agar98  EnglandTrent Bridge10 July 2013

Last updated: 18 November 2017[50]

Most runs in an over

RunsSequenceBatsmanBowlerVenueSeason
354–5W–7NB–4–4–4–6–1 Jasprit Bumrah Stuart BroadEdgbaston, Birmingham2022
284–6–6–4–4–4 Brian Lara Robin PetersonWanderers Stadium, Johannesburg2003–04
4–6–2–4–6–6 George Bailey James AndersonWACA, Perth2013–14
4–4–4–6–6–b4 Keshav Maharaj Joe RootSt George's Park, Port Elizabeth2019–20
276–6–6–6–2–1 Shahid Afridi Harbhajan SinghGaddafi Stadium, Lahore2005–06
6-4-4-4-6-3 Harry Brook Zahid MahmoodRawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi2022–23

Last updated: 2 December 2022[51]

Centuries

Most Test centuries
CenturiesPlayerMatchesInnings
51 Sachin Tendulkar200329
45 Jacques Kallis166280
41 Ricky Ponting168287
38 Kumar Sangakkara134233
36 Rahul Dravid164286

Last updated: 15 June 2016[52]

Fastest Test centuries
No. of ballsPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
54 Brendon McCullum  AustraliaHagley Oval, Christchurch2015–16
56 Viv Richards  EnglandAntigua Recreation Ground, St. John's1985–86
Misbah-ul-Haq  AustraliaSheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi2014
57 Adam Gilchrist  EnglandWACA Ground, Perth2006–07
67 Jack Gregory  South AfricaOld Wanderers, Johannesburg1921–22

Last updated: 15 June 2016[53]

Most Test double centuries
Double centuriesPlayerMatches
12 Donald Bradman52
11 Kumar Sangakkara130
9 Brian Lara131
7 Wally Hammond85
Virat Kohli100
Mahela Jayawardene149

Last updated: 30 December 2021[54]

Fastest Test double centuries
No. of ballsPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
153 Nathan Astle  EnglandJade Stadium, Christchurch2001–02
163 Ben Stokes  South AfricaNewlands, Cape Town2016
168 Virender Sehwag  Sri LankaBrabourne Stadium, Mumbai2009
182 Virender Sehwag  PakistanGaddafi Stadium, Lahore2006
186 Brendon McCullum  PakistanSharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah2014

Last updated: 4 March 2019[55][56]

Most Test triple centuries
Triple centuriesPlayerMatches
2 Donald Bradman52
Virender Sehwag104
Chris Gayle103
Brian Lara131
1(22 players)

Last updated: 8 January 2019[57]

Most Test quadruple centuries
Quadruple centuriesPlayerMatches
1 Brian Lara131

Last updated: 15 June 2016[58]

Half-centuries

Most Test 50+ scores
50+PlayerMatchesInnings
119 Sachin Tendulkar200329
103 Jacques Kallis166280
Ricky Ponting168287
99 Rahul Dravid164286
96 Shivnarine Chanderpaul164280

Last updated: 15 June 2016[59]

Fastest Test half-centuries
No. of ballsPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
21 Misbah-ul-Haq  AustraliaSheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi2014–15
23 David Warner  PakistanSydney Cricket Ground2016–17
24 Jacques Kallis  ZimbabweNewlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town2004–05
25 Shane Shillingford  New ZealandSabina Park, Kingston2014
26 Shahid Afridi  IndiaM Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore2004–05
Mohammad Ashraful  IndiaSher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur2007
Dale Steyn West IndiesSt. George's Park, Port Elizabeth2014–15
Last updated: 16 September 2019[60]

Note: Misbah's is also the fastest in minutes, at 24 minutes, with Ashraful in second place on 27. Some records credit Victor Trumper with a 22-minute half-century against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1902-3, but this only counted the time he was on strike: the total time for his fifty is recorded as 45 minutes.
Some sources also credit Ian Botham with a 26-ball half-century against India at Delhi in 1981-2, but this is a printing error: the scorecard records 28 balls.

Most fours in career

FoursPlayerInnings
2058 Sachin Tendulkar329
1654 Rahul Dravid286
1559 Brian Lara232
1509 Ricky Ponting287
1491 Kumar Sangakkara233
Key: + : complete career records are not known.
Last updated: 8 January 2019[61]

Most sixes in career

SixesPlayerInnings
128 Ben Stokes185
107 Brendon McCullum176
100 Adam Gilchrist137
98 Chris Gayle182
97 Jacques Kallis280

Last updated: 11 March 2024[62]

Ducks

DucksInningsPlayerPeriod
43185 Courtney Walsh1984–2001
39244 Stuart Broad2007–2023
36104 Chris Martin2000–2013
35138 Glenn McGrath1993–2007
34199 Shane Warne1992–2007
142 Ishant Sharma2007–2021
264 James Anderson2003–2024

Last updated: 11 March 2024[63]

Individual records (bowling)

Most wickets in a career

WicketsPlayerMatchesAverage
800 Muttiah Muralitharan13322.72
708 Shane Warne14525.41
700 James Anderson18726.56
619 Anil Kumble13229.65
604 Stuart Broad16727.68
Last updated: 1 August 2023[64]

Most wickets in a career – Progression of record

WicketsPlayerMatchesAverageRecord held untilDuration of record
8[a] Alfred Shaw110.7531 March 187716 days
14 Tom Kendall215.354 January 18791 year, 279 days
94[b] Fred Spofforth1818.4112 January 189516 years, 8 days
100 Johnny Briggs2513.514 February 189533 days
101 Charles Turner1716.532 March 189526 days
103 Johnny Briggs2613.9221 March 18961 year, 19 days
112[c] George Lohmann1810.7514 January 18981 year, 299 days
118 Johnny Briggs3317.752 January 19045 years, 353 days
141 Hugh Trumble3221.7813 December 19139 years, 345 days
189 Sydney Barnes2716.434 January 193622 years, 22 days
216 Clarrie Grimmett3724.2124 July 195317 years, 201 days
236 Alec Bedser5124.8926 January 19639 years, 186 days
242[d] Brian Statham6724.2715 March 196348 days
307 Fred Trueman6721.571 February 197612 years, 323 days
309 Lance Gibbs7929.0927 December 19815 years, 329 days
355 Dennis Lillee7023.9221 August 19864 years, 237 days
373[e] Ian Botham9427.8612 November 19882 years, 83 days
431 Richard Hadlee8622.298 February 19945 years, 88 days
434 Kapil Dev13129.6427 March 20006 years, 48 days
519 Courtney Walsh13224.448 May 20044 years, 42 days
532[f] Muttiah Muralitharan9122.8715 October 2004160 days
708[f] Shane Warne14525.413 December 20073 years, 49 days
800 Muttiah Muralitharan13322.72Current16 years, 146 days

Fastest to multiples of 50 wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin holds world record for quickest to reach 250, 300 and 350 Test wickets.
WicketsBowlerMatchRecord DateReference
50 Charlie Turner630 August 1888[69]
100 George Lohmann162 March 1896[70]
150 Sydney Barnes2413 December 1913[71]
200 Yasir Shah333 December 2018[72]
250 Ravichandran Ashwin459 February 2017[73]
3005424 November 2017[74]
350 Muttiah Muralitharan666 September 2001[75]
Ravichandran Ashwin2 October 2019
400 Muttiah Muralitharan7212 January 2002[76]
450803 May 2003[77]
5008716 March 2004[78]
5509412 September 2005[79][80]
6001018 March 2006[81]
6501084 August 2006[82][83]
70011311 July 2007[84]
75012231 July 2008[85]
80013318 July 2010[86]
Last updated: 19 January 2021

Best career bowling average

AveragePlayerRuns concededWickets
10.75 George Lohmann1,205112
12.70 / J. J. Ferris[a]77561
15.54 Billy Barnes79351
16.42 Billy Bates82150
16.43 Sydney Barnes3106189
Last updated: 19 February 2022[88]
Qualification: At least 2,000 balls bowled.

Note: If the qualification is removed, the best career average record is at 0.00 runs per wicket (i.e. no runs were conceded). This record is shared by Englishmen A N Hornby, Wilf Barber and New Zealander, Bruce Murray who took one wicket without conceding a run[89]

Best career strike rate

Strike ratePlayerBallsWickets
34.19 George Lohmann3,830112
37.73 / J. J. Ferris2,30261
38.75 Shane Bond3,37287
38.84 Duanne Olivier2,29259
39.23 Kagiso Rabada11,416291
Last updated: 16 August 2023[90]
Qualification: 2000 balls bowled.

Most 5 wickets in an innings

5 wickets in an inningsPlayerMatches
67 Muttiah Muralitharan133
37 Shane Warne145
36 Richard Hadlee86
Ravichandran Ashwin100
35 Anil Kumble132

Last updated: 25 February 2024[91]

Most 10 wickets in a match

10 wickets in a matchPlayerMatches
22 Muttiah Muralitharan133
10 Shane Warne145
9 Richard Hadlee86
Rangana Herath93
8 Anil Kumble132
Ravichandran Ashwin99

Last updated: 16 August 2023[92]

Series

Most wickets in a series
WicketsPlayerSeries
49 (4 Tests) Sydney Barnesv  South Africa 1913–14
46 (5 Tests) Jim Lakerv  Australia, 1956
44 (5 Tests) Clarrie Grimmettv  South Africa 1935–36
42 (6 Tests) Terry Aldermanv  England, 1981
41 (6 Tests) Terry Aldermanv  England, 1989
Rodney Hoggv  England, 1978–79

Last updated: 15 June 2016[93]

Innings

Best figures in an innings
Bowling figuresPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
10–53 Jim Laker[a]  AustraliaOld Trafford, Manchester1956
10–74 Anil Kumble  PakistanFeroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi1998–99
10–119 Ajaz Patel  IndiaWankhede Stadium, Mumbai2021–22
9–28 George Lohmann  South AfricaOld Wanderers, Johannesburg1895–96
9–37 Jim Laker[a]  AustraliaOld Trafford, Manchester1956

Last updated: 4 December 2021[95]

Best figures in an innings – progression of record
Bowling figuresPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
7–55[a] Tom Kendall  EnglandMelbourne Cricket Ground1876–77
7–44 Fred Spofforth  EnglandThe Oval, London1882
7–28 Billy Bates  AustraliaMelbourne Cricket Ground1882–83
8–35 George Lohmann  AustraliaSydney Cricket Ground1886–87
8–11 Johnny Briggs  South AfricaNewlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town1888–89
8–7 George Lohmann  South AfricaSt. George's Park, Port Elizabeth1895–96
9–28 George Lohmann  South AfricaOld Wanderers, Johannesburg1895–96
10–53 Jim Laker  AustraliaOld Trafford, Manchester1956
Last updated: 15 June 2016
Note: Calculated at the conclusion of each Test.

Match records

Best figures in a match
BowlingPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
19–90 Jim Laker  AustraliaOld Trafford, Manchester1956
17–159 Sydney Barnes  South AfricaOld Wanderers, Johannesburg1913–14
16–136 Narendra Hirwani  West IndiesM. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai1987–88
16–137 Bob Massie  EnglandLord's, London1972
16–220 Muttiah Muralitharan  EnglandThe Oval, London1998

Last updated: 15 June 2016[96]

Innings as captain

Best figures in an innings as captain
Bowling figuresPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
9–83 Kapil Dev  West IndiesSardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad1983
8–60 Imran Khan  IndiaNational Stadium, Karachi, Karachi1982
8–63 Rangana Herath  ZimbabweHarare Sports Club, Harare2016
8–106 Kapil Dev  AustraliaAdelaide Oval, Adelaide1985
7–37 Courtney Walsh  New ZealandBasin Reserve, Wellington1995

Last updated: 16 March 2017[97]

Match records as captain

Best figures in a match as captain
BowlingPlayerOpponentVenueSeason
13–55 Courtney Walsh  New ZealandBasin Reserve, Wellington1995
13–135 Waqar Younis  ZimbabweSouthend Club Cricket Stadium, Karachi1993
13–152 Rangana Herath  ZimbabweHarare Sports Club, Harare2016
12–100 Fazal Mahmood  West IndiesBangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka1959
11–79 Imran Khan  IndiaNational Stadium, Karachi1982

Last updated: 15 June 2016[98]

Individual records (fielding)

Most catches in Test career

CatchesPlayerMatches
210 Rahul Dravid164
205 Mahela Jayawardene149
200 Jacques Kallis166
196 Ricky Ponting168
193 Joe Root140
Last updated: 11 March 2024[99]
Note: This list excludes catches made as wicket-keeper.

Individual records (wicket-keeping)

Most dismissals

DismissalsPlayerMatches
555 (532 catches + 23 stumpings) Mark Boucher147
416 (379 catches + 37 stumpings) Adam Gilchrist96
395 (366 catches + 29 stumpings) Ian Healy119
355 (343 catches + 12 stumpings) Rod Marsh96
294 (256 catches + 38 stumpings) MS Dhoni90

Last updated: 15 June 2016[100]

Most catches

CatchesPlayerMatches
532 Mark Boucher147
379 Adam Gilchrist96
366 Ian Healy119
343 Rod Marsh96
265 Jeff Dujon81

Last updated: 15 June 2016[101]

Most stumpings

StumpingsPlayerMatches
52 Bert Oldfield54
46 Godfrey Evans91
38 Syed Kirmani88
MS Dhoni90
37 Adam Gilchrist96

Last updated: 15 June 2016[102]

Individual records (as an all-rounder)

10 wickets and a century in a Test match

PlayerRunsWicketsDateOpponentVenue
Ian Botham[103][a]11413/10915 February 1980  IndiaWankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India
Imran Khan[103][a]11711/1803 January 1983  IndiaIqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Shakib Al Hasan[103][b]13710/1243 November 2014  ZimbabweSheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna, Bangladesh
Last updated: 16 September 2016[104]
Notes: Alan Davidson (Australia), in the tied 1st Test at Brisbane against the West Indies in 1960-61, was the first man to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in a match (and is the only other player to achieve this so far), but without a century: his two scores with the bat were 44 and 80, in addition to 11 wickets (5/135 and 6/87).

Betty Wilson was the first player to do it in 1958. She scored 100 and was 11/18. Enid Bakewell made this milestone the year before Botham.[105]

Most 5 wickets in an innings and a century in the same Test match

MatchesPlayerPeriod
5 Ian Botham1977–1992
3 Ravichandran Ashwin2011–present
2 Garfield Sobers1954–1974
Mushtaq Mohammad1959–1979
Jacques Kallis1995–2013
Shakib Al Hasan2007–present

Last updated: 15 February 2021[106]

Individual records (other)

Most matches played

MatchesPlayerPeriod
200 Sachin Tendulkar1989–2013
187 James Anderson2003–2024
168 Steve Waugh1985–2004
Ricky Ponting1995–2012
167 Stuart Broad2007–2023
Last updated: 11 March 2024[107]

Most matches played as captain

MatchesPlayerWonLostDrawnTied
109 Graeme Smith5329270
93 Allan Border3222381
80 Stephen Fleming2827250
77 Ricky Ponting4816130
74 Clive Lloyd3612260

Last updated: 15 June 2016[108]

Most matches won as captain

WonPlayerLostDrawnTiesMatches
53 Graeme Smith26260109
48 Ricky Ponting1613077
41 Steve Waugh97057
40 Virat Kohli1711068
36 Clive Lloyd1226074

Last updated: 14 January 2022[109]

Most Player-of-the-Match awards

No. of AwardsPlayerTeamMatchesPeriod
23Jacques Kallis  South Africa1661995–2013
19Muttiah Muralitharan  Sri Lanka1331992–2010
17Wasim Akram  Pakistan1041985–2002
Shane Warne  Australia1451992–2007
16Kumar Sangakkara  Sri Lanka1342000–2015
Ricky Ponting  Australia1681995–2012
Last updated: 29 December 2019[110]

Most Player-of-the-series awards

No. of Award PlayerTeamMatchesSeriesPeriod
11Muttiah Muralitharan  Sri Lanka133611992–2010
10R Ashwin  India94392011–2023
9Jacques Kallis  South Africa166611995–2013
8Imran Khan  Pakistan88281971–1992
Richard Hadlee  New Zealand86331973–1990
Shane Warne  Australia145461992–2007
Last updated: 16 August 2023[111]

Partnership records

Highest partnerships

RunsTeamPlayersOppositionVenueSeason
624 (3rd wicket)  Sri LankaKumar Sangakkara (287)Mahela Jayawardene (374)  South AfricaSinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo2006
576 (2nd wicket)  Sri LankaSanath Jayasuriya (340)Roshan Mahanama (225)  IndiaRanasinghe Premadasa Stadium, Colombo1997–98
467 (3rd wicket)  New ZealandAndrew Jones (186)Martin Crowe (299)  Sri LankaBasin Reserve, Wellington1990–91
451 (2nd wicket)  AustraliaBill Ponsford (266)Donald Bradman (244)  EnglandThe Oval, London1934
451 (3rd wicket)  PakistanMudassar Nazar (231)Javed Miandad (280*)  IndiaNiaz Stadium, Hyderabad1982–83

Last updated: 15 June 2016[112]

An asterisk (*) signifies an unbroken partnership (i.e. neither of the batsmen was dismissed before either the end of the allotted overs or the required score being reached).

Highest partnership (for each wicket)

PartnershipRunsTeamPlayersOppositionVenueSeason
1st wicket415  South AfricaGraeme Smith (232)Neil McKenzie (226)  BangladeshChittagong Divisional Stadium2008
2nd wicket576  Sri LankaSanath Jayasuriya (340)Roshan Mahanama (225)  IndiaRanasinghe Premadasa Stadium, Colombo1997–98
3rd wicket624  Sri LankaKumar Sangakkara (287)Mahela Jayawardene (374)  South AfricaSinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo2006
4th wicket449  AustraliaAdam Voges (269*)Shaun Marsh (182)  West IndiesBellerive Oval, Hobart2015–16
5th wicket405  AustraliaSid Barnes (234)Donald Bradman (234)  EnglandSydney Cricket Ground1946–47
6th wicket399  EnglandBen Stokes (258)Jonny Bairstow (150*)  South AfricaNewlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town2015–16
7th wicket347  West IndiesDenis Atkinson (219)Clairmonte Depeiaza (122)  AustraliaKensington Oval, Bridgetown1954–55
8th wicket332  EnglandJonathan Trott (184)Stuart Broad (169)  PakistanLord's, London2010
9th wicket195  South AfricaMark Boucher (78)Pat Symcox (108)  PakistanNew Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg1997–98
10th wicket198  EnglandJoe Root (154*)James Anderson (81)  IndiaTrent Bridge, Nottingham2014

Last updated: 15 June 2016[113]

An asterisk (*) signifies an unbroken partnership (i.e. neither of the batsmen was dismissed before either the end of the allotted overs or the required score being reached).

Highest overall partnership runs by a pair

RankRunsInningsPlayersBatting teamHighestAverage100/50career span
16,920143Rahul Dravid & Sachin Tendulkar  India24950.5120/291996–2012
26,554120Mahela Jayawardene & Kumar Sangakkara  Sri Lanka62456.519/272000–2015
36,482148Gordon Greenidge & Desmond Haynes  West Indies29847.3116/261978–1991
46,081122Matthew Hayden & Justin Langer  Australia25551.5314/281997–2007
55,253132Alastair Cook & Andrew Strauss  England22940.414/212006–2012
Last updated: 11 October 2022[114]

See also

References

External links