Australia romp to the 9th highest ODI total ever – but one country owns the top 3 positions

Jonhenry Wilson
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Australia recorded one of the highest ODI totals against South Africa in Mackay in August 2025.

Scores in excess of 400 in ODIs are rare, but they do happen.

In fact, the 400-run mark has been breached 29 times in ODI cricket, most recently by Australia against South Africa in Mackay.

On all but three occasions the 400-plus scores have been good enough to win games, but there have been rare incidents of sides chasing down massive totals.

Perhaps most famously was the 2006 game in Johannesburg when Australia posted a then highest ever ODI score in the first innings only to see South Africa better it in their chase.

Let’s take a moment to look at the highest ever team totals recorded in ODI cricket.

1. England: 498/4

  • vs Netherlands, Amstelveen, 2022

England hold the record for the highest total in men’s ODIs, posting a scarcely believable 498 for 4 in Amstelveen. Jos Buttler bludgeoned 162 from 70 balls, while Dawid Malan and Phil Salt also struck centuries.

Liam Livingstone added a 17-ball 66 to rub salt into Dutch wounds. England’s power-hitting depth was simply overwhelming, and they fell just two runs short of becoming the first side to 500. Unsurprisingly, they won by a massive 232 runs.

2. England: 481/6

  • vs Australia, Nottingham, 2018

Four years earlier, England smashed their then-record of 444 by hammering Australia to all parts at Trent Bridge. Alex Hales (147) and Jonny Bairstow (139) led the carnage as England scored at nearly ten an over.

Eoin Morgan provided the finishing touch with a rapid 67 from 30 balls, leaving Australia shell-shocked. This 481 remains the highest ODI score against a Full Member nation.

3. England: 444/3

  • vs Pakistan, Nottingham, 2016

The Trent Bridge crowd has been spoiled for runs, and 2016 was the first time England crossed the 400 mark in an ODI at the ground. Alex Hales smashed a then-record 171, the highest individual ODI score by an Englishman.

Pakistan’s bowlers were battered to all parts as England showed the beginnings of the fearless brand of white-ball cricket that would later win them a World Cup. England won the game by 169 runs.

Also read: Where does Cameron Green’s Mackay mayhem rank among 11 fastest ODI centuries?

4. Sri Lanka: 443/9

  • vs Netherlands, Amstelveen, 2006

The Netherlands have been on the receiving end of more than one monster total. In 2006, Sanath Jayasuriya rolled back the years with a 104-ball 157, supported by Tillakaratne Dilshan’s unbeaten 117.

The Dutch bowlers had no answers as Sri Lanka posted what was then the highest ODI total in history. They won comfortably by 195 runs.

5. South Africa: 439/2

  • vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2015

South Africa’s top order has always had a flair for destruction, and against the West Indies in 2015 they showed just how ruthless they can be. Hashim Amla (153*), Rilee Rossouw (128) and AB de Villiers (149 off just 44 balls) combined in a run-fest at the Wanderers.

De Villiers’ innings, the fastest ODI century ever, was the highlight, a display of jaw-dropping power hitting that lit up the stadium.

6. South Africa: 438/9

  • vs Australia, Johannesburg, 2006

The greatest ODI ever played. Chasing Australia’s 434, then the highest total in ODI history, South Africa did the unthinkable and overhauled it with one ball to spare.

Herschelle Gibbs produced the innings of his life, scoring 175, while Mark Boucher finished the job with 50 not out. It was a game that redefined ODI cricket and which remains one of the sport’s most extraordinary contests.

7. South Africa: 438/4

  • vs India, Mumbai, 2015

Another Johannesburg-style demolition, this time in Mumbai. South Africa’s top three all made centuries, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers all reaching three figures, in a relentless onslaught.

The Proteas reached 438/4, and India, despite the small boundaries at Wankhede, had no chance of a successful chase, falling 214 runs short.

8. Australia: 434/4

  • vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2006

The first half of that unforgettable match saw Australia rewrite history by becoming the first side to cross 430 in ODIs. Ricky Ponting’s masterful 164 anchored the innings as boundaries rained at the Bullring.

Yet, astonishingly, what looked like an unchaseable score did not prove enough, as South Africa stunned the world by pulling off the greatest run chase of all time.

9. Australia: 431/2

  • vs South Africa, Mackay, 2025

The latest addition to the 400-club came in Mackay, where Australia posted a mammoth 432/2 against South Africa.

Travis Head and David Warner both cashed in, while Cameron Green’s blistering hitting late on ensured Australia registered their highest ever ODI score on home soil.

This time the total was simply too much for South Africa as they capitulated to 155 all out to gift Australia a victory by won by 276 runs.

Unlike the famous Wanderers game where the series was level at 2-2 going into the match, the Mackay encounter was a dead rubber with Temba Bavuma’s side having already secured the of the series.

Highest team totals in ODIs – top 9 summary list

1. England: 498/4
2. England: 481/6
3. England: 444/3
4. Sri Lanka: 443/9
5. South Africa: 439/2
6. South Africa: 438/9
7. South Africa: 438/4
8. Australia: 434/4
9. Australia: 431/2

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