Test cricket is the oldest format of the game, with the first test match being played between Australia & England in 1877 and Australia eventually clinching the historic test. Over the years, there were uncountable unforgettable test matches that witnessed unbelievable partnerships that changed the course of the game on its terms. It was a strenuous task to pick 11 partnerships in test cricket, but we did it for you only.
Here are the Top 11 Partnerships in Test Cricket-
1) Simon Katich & Justin Langer’s 218 runs Against Sri Lanka (2006)
After posting a huge total of 401 in 1st innings, Australia did expect a lead but Sri Lanka took a lead of 6 runs against the mighty Aussies. Everyone thought the result of the match would be a draw. But Sri Lankan bowlers dismantled Australia’s batting for 90/5.
Katich came to bat and added 218 runs with Justin Langer. This partnership helped Australia post a respectable total of 375. In response, Sri Lanka could only manage 248 to fall short by 122 runs.
2) Faf Du Plessis & AB de Villiers 205 runs Against India (2013)
This test match could be regarded as a roller coaster ride. After 36 runs lead, India added another 421 runs with the assistance of Pujara’s 100 and Kohli’s valuable 96 runs. At one point in the match, it seemed India will win the match when South Africa was 4 down for 197. Although, AB de Villiers showed the fighting spirit to add 205 runs with Du Plessis. AB de Villiers scored 100 in 162 balls.
When it seemed South Africa will seal the match comfortably, Indian bowlers depicted their dominance & took 3 wickets. However, they fell short by 8 runs as the last day ended.
3) Brendon McCullum & BJ Watling’s 352 runs Against India (2014)
New Zealand was 246 runs behind before the start of the 3rd innings. Zaheer Khan replicated the first inning dominance as New Zealand was struggling with half the team already being sent back to the dressing room for 94 runs.
BJ Watling and McCullum decided to take the game deep as the duo added 352 runs for the 6th wicket before Watling was dismissed. At this stage, New Zealand had 200runs lead but that wasn’t enough. McCullum & Jimmy Neesham added another 179 runs to declare the innings on 680/8/. McCullum smashed a triple century to save the game for New Zealand. These two partnerships in test cricket which were witnessed during 3rd innings were game-changing.
4) K Sangakara & DPMD Jayawardene’s 624 Against South Africa (2006)
Even after 16 years, this partnership between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayewardene remains the highest partnership in test cricket. This partnership came outside Asia in South African conditions back in 2006. After dismissing Africa for merely 169 runs, the match was already set for Sri Lanka but Mahela & Sangakkara made it memorable by stitching the highest partnership in test cricket ever. Sangakkara scored 287 runs while Mahela smashed 374 against Proteas in this inning.
South Africa was never in the game, however, they kept on fighting as the team managed to score 434 runs in 2nd innings but that wasn’t enough. Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and a huge margin of 153 runs. The highest test partnership had to feature in the list of world-class partnerships in test cricket ever.
5) Inzaman & Mushtaq’s 57 runs Against Australia (1994)
The innings doesn’t need to be big rather a short and impactful inning that can turn the match in your favor is all a team desires. Mighty Australia already had a lead of 81 runs against Pakistan and was crushing Pakistan’s hope of winning with 171 runs only for the loss of 2 wickets. However, Wasim Akram & Waqar Younis crumbled 8 Australian batters for only 61 runs. The job was not done yet. Batters had to face the fierceness bowling attack of Aussies.
Pakistan managed to give a fight but no solid partnerships were built to carry the momentum of the match. Inzamam was batting when Mushtaq walked in to bat. Pakistan were still 56 runs behind the target with just 1 wicket in their pocket. It looked like Australia’s match, but Mushtaq showed that he can bat as he added valuable 20 runs along with Inzaman’s 37 runs to clinch the victory.
6) Laxman & Ishant’s 81 runs Against Australia (2010)
India finished their 1st innings against Aussies with a trial of 23 runs. After the massive 400+ runs from both sides in their 1st innings, it seemed the match will draw. But Indian bowlers had other plans as they crumbled Australia’s last 6 wickets for only 38 runs. India required 216 runs to win the test which was quite chaseable.
Although, Australian bowlers made the target look bigger as India were on their knees after their 8 wickets fell only for 124 runs. India was on the verge of losing the test match. But VVS Laxman & Ishant Sharma decided not to give as they added 81 runs for the 9th wicket to bring home the victory against Australia.
7) Wood & Serjeant’s 251 runs Against Australia (1978)
This test match witnessed lots of debutants with as many as 6 players making their debut for West Indies. After the first inning, Australia took a lead of 81 runs. West Indies debutant rose to the occasion as two debutants, Basil Williams and Larry Gomes, smashed their maiden century to set a huge 359 runs target for Australia.
West Indies came hard on Aussies as they dismissed their top 3 batters for merely 22 runs. The chances of Australia winning the test match were skimmed by 2/3rd. However, Graeme Wood & Craig Serjeant stayed still on the crease and added 251 runs. Nevertheless, the job wasn’t done and the lower order had to contribute to this hard-earned victory. Australia won by 3 wickets.
8) Langer & Gilchrist’s 238 runs Against Pakistan (1999)
After both, the teams scored around 250 runs in their first innings. The extra brilliant effort from Inzamam-Ul-Haq pushed Pakistan’s total to 392 runs and chasing 369 runs seemed like moving a mountain on that kind of pitch. Pakistan’s speedsters Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed Australia’s top 5 batters cheaply for 126 runs.
Nevertheless, Australia didn’t lose hope as Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer were still on the crease. The duo added 238 runs for the 6th wicket to clinch the win from the jaws of the defeat.
9) Laxman & Dravid’s 376 runs Against Australia (2001)
Who would have imagined that India will win this test match after being given a follow-on in the 2nd innings? Australia scored 445 runs in 1st innings and in response, India was all out for 171. Australia gave a follow-on to crush hopeless India’s chances of victory.
However, India came back strong to manage 232 runs with 4 wickets but was still behind Australia’s 1st innings score. Then, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s partnership brought a u-turn in the match as the duo added 376 runs for the 5th wicket. Dravid scored 180 and Laxman scored 281 runs. India declared on 608/5. Late declaration from India left the hopes of only a draw but Harbhajan Singh’s hattrick folded the match in India’s favor. India won the test match by 171 runs.
10) Flintoff & Thorpe’s 281 runs Against New Zealand (2002)
The pitch in this match was tricky. Both the teams could barely manage 250 and 150 runs in their 1st innings, whereas in the 2nd innings each team accumulated more than 400 runs each. After securing an 81 runs lead, England was in deep water in the 3rd innings with 106/5. It seemed New Zealand will all-out England below 150 until Andrew Flintoff & Graham Thorpe added 281 runs for the 6 wickets.
This partnership took the game away from New Zealand as England declared on 468 after Graham Thorpe’s double century. New Zealand couldn’t fight back except Nathan Astle who scored 222 runs which wasn’t enough as his team could manage only 451 runs in the final innings.
11) Kohli & Rahane’s 365 runs Against New Zealand (2016)
India showed their invincibility at home in tests against New Zealand. India dominated the kiwis completely as Kohli’s men had already sealed the series with 2-0 up. But Kohli and Rahane ( then captain & vice-captain) weren’t satisfied without whitewashing New Zealand
However, Kiwis showed resistance in the last test match as India was 100/3, but then we witnessed Kohli & Rahane’s epic 365 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Kohli scored his 2nd double century, while Rahane missed his first by a small margin of 12 runs. India defeated New Zealand with the help of this partnership which can be termed among the finest partnerships in test cricket.
