Will England – against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge – join this list of the 5 highest team totals in Test cricket since 2000?

Jonhenry Wilson 23 May 2025

India were on the receiving end of Sri Lanka's huge total in Ahmedabad in 209.

As England and Zimbabwe tackle each other at Trent Bridge in their one-off Test, the runs flowed on day one after the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first. Each of England’s top three – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope – stroked centuries as England ended day one on 497 for three.

This Test is only scheduled to be played over four days, but it still gives England a fantastic platform on which to build.

While it is unlikely that they will bat too deep into day two, another session and a bit could see them reach upward of 600. It begs the question, what are the highest Test cricket innings totals posted in recent times?

Let’s go back to the year 2000 and have a look at the highest innings totals made in Test cricket since the turn of the century.

5. 749 for 9 declared – West Indies vs England, Bridgetown, 2009

In one of the longest batting efforts ever seen in Test cricket, the West Indies piled on 749 for nine declared as they replied to an England total of 600against England in Bridgetown.

The innings was anchored by an extraordinary 291 from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who feasted on an England attack that toiled in vain. He was supported by Denesh Ramdin (166) and contributions from Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jerome Taylor who all passed 50.

Given the enormity of the both the first innings scores, the match ended in a draw – a common outcome when innings stretch over two or more days.

4. 751 for 5 declared – West Indies vs England, St John’s, 2004

This entry also comes at England’s expense. In 2004, the West Indies bounced back from a series of poor performances to hammer out a massive 751 for five declared.

The standout performer was Brian Lara, who etched his name into cricket folklore by reclaiming the world record for the highest individual Test score with an unbeaten 400. England’s bowlers were powerless as Lara batted through more than two days.

It remains the only quadruple century in Test history, and this innings is arguably the most iconic of the modern era.

Also read: Who are the only 7 batters with 5,000+ Test runs at an average of 50+ since 2000? No.5 is surprising

3. 756 for 5 declared – Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Colombo, 2006

Batting first at the SSC in Colombo, South Africa managed a modest 169 all out. When Sri Lanka lost their first two wickets to Dale Steyn to find themselves as 14 for two, it looked like it would be a low scoring game.

Bit things changed as skipper Mahela Jayawardene joined Kumar Sangakkara in the middle, and they set about punishing a strong South African side with one of their finest collective efforts. Jayawardene (374) and Kumar Sangakkara (287) put together a marathon 624-run partnership for the third wicket, still the highest for any wicket in Test history.

The South African bowling attack, which included Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Dale Steyn, simply had no answers. The innings was declared on 756 for five, and Sri Lanka went on to win by an innings and 153 runs.

2. 760 for 7 declared – Sri Lanka vs India, Ahmedabad, 2009

In yet another monumental batting performance, Sri Lanka smashed 760 for seven declared against India at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Once again Sri Lanka batted second, but this time India let it be known that there were plenty of runs in the track as they scored 426.

In response Tillakaratne Dilshan starred with 112, while Mahela Jayawardene added another double century to his tally with 275. Prasanna Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews added valuable lower order runs as India’s attack wilted.

Not surprisingly, the game ended in a high-scoring draw, despite seven centurions and nearly 1,500 runs being scored across five days.

1. 765 for 6 declared – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Karachi, 2009

The highest Test total in this century (and the fourth highest of all time) came in Karachi in 2009, where Pakistan rebounded from conceding 644 to post a colossal 765 for six declared.

The innings was powered by Younis Khan, who made a triple century (313) in a match where bowlers had almost no role.

Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Kamran Akmal also posted fifties or better as Sri Lanka were ground into submission. Unsurprisingly, this Test ended in a draw, with over 1,500 runs scored and only 18 wickets falling.