Cricket Records: Top 5 Legendary Batsmen Who Scored 400+ Runs in a Single Test Match
Cricket Records: Top 5 Legendary Batsmen Who Scored 400+ Runs in a Single Test Match
Scoring 400 runs in a single Test match is one of the rarest and most remarkable feats in cricket history. It requires immense skill, patience, and mental strength to dominate over multiple innings and build such monumental totals. Only a handful of batsmen have achieved this milestone, etching their names into the record books. Let’s take a look at the five greatest batsmen who have scored 400 or more runs in a single Test match.
1. Graham Gooch (England) – 456 Runs
England’s legendary batsman Graham Gooch holds the world record for the most runs scored in a single Test match. Gooch achieved this incredible feat against India at Lord’s in July 1990. He smashed 333 runs in the first innings and followed it up with 123 runs in the second innings, amassing a total of 456 runs in the match.
2. Shubman Gill (India) – 430 Runs
India’s rising star and Test captain Shubman Gill occupies the second spot on this elite list. During the Birmingham Test against England in July 2025, Gill scored a staggering 430 runs—269 in the first innings and 161 in the second. He became the first Asian batsman and the second worldwide to achieve this milestone.
3. Mark Taylor (Australia) – 426 Runs
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor produced a batting masterclass against Pakistan in Peshawar in October 1998. Taylor scored an unbeaten 334 runs in the first innings and added 92 in the second, totaling 426 runs in the match.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 424 Runs
Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara showcased his brilliance against Bangladesh in Chattogram in February 2014. He scored 424 runs in the match, including 319 runs in the first innings and 105 in the second.
5. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 400 Runs
Brian Lara, the West Indies legend, holds the world record for the highest individual score in a single Test innings. On April 12, 2004, against England in Antigua, Lara scored an unbeaten 400 runs off 582 balls, with 43 fours and 4 sixes. Even 21 years later, no other batsman has broken this monumental record. Lara’s iconic innings remains one of the greatest in cricket history.
A Monumental Achievement in Test Cricket
Scoring over 400 runs in a single Test match is a testament to a batsman’s talent, concentration, and dominance. These five players have set benchmarks that continue to inspire cricketers across generations.
