Most Runs In Test Cricket On The First Day:
What do you expect a team to score on the first day of the test match? 250, 300, or a maximum of 350 runs. But what if we tell you the most runs in first day of test match by team is 500 and plus. Yes, we have a team that did this miracle against Pakistan in 2022 at Rawalpindi. We will share all the details of that wonderful match but before that let’s talk about the teams which put 470 plus runs on the scoreboard on the first day of the test match.
Not to keep you in more suspense, the list of the best five teams having the highest first day score in test match to get more than 470 runs, starts and ends with Team England. The English team has won many titles and holds the trophies of current world champions in ODIs and T-20s as of May 2023. Now let us share the best of the moments of the batting team in the list of the best five most runs in one session of test cricket by team.
Most Runs in First day of Test Match by Team : Top 5 List
Number 5: England vs India London 1936
It was in 1936, in London when the England team showed its charismatic batting prowess against India, scoring 471 on the first day of the match, losing 8 wickets in the process, and making history for 5th highest 1st day score in test cricket. It was an unforgettable day for the Indian bowlers, when the right-handed batsman Wally Hammond destroyed the bowling line and scored 217 runs, though he was bowled by Nissar. After Wally, batsman Stan Worthington showed his batting skills and smashed 128 runs and he was also bowled by Nissar.
The teams were playing their third test match and England scored 471 runs including 34 runs by Charlie Barnett. Charlie was sent back to the pavilion by Nayudu with an LBW and Arthur Fagg was caught by Dilawar Hussain while bowled by Amar Singh and Jim Sims scored only 1 run and got LBW out by Amar Singh.
Number 4: Australia vs England, London 1934.
England’s 471 runs against India in 1936 seem like an act of revenge by team England, and 5th highest team score in test cricket in a single day though the opposition team was different then. It was now team Australia which challenged England with a massive score of 475 as it was 4th most runs in the first day of a test match by a team. It was the same ground of London, interestingly England could take only 2 wickets during these 475 runs.
This enormous score was the result of the contribution of two Australian legendary cricketers Bill Ponsford and Sir Don Bradman, they both hit glorious double centuries, where Bill hit 266 runs and Sir Donald Bradman scored 244 runs. Bill got out, hit-wicket when Allen was bowling and Sir Don lost wicket with a catch bowled by Bowes. When Aussies came to bat again they made history and won the match with the record of second-largest victory in terms of runs against any team in the history of the test by 56 plus runs.
Number 3: Australia vs South Africa, Adelaide 2012.
Australian batsman David Warner scored 119 runs with a strike rate above 100 and the team got an exceptional start. Warner was in the second year of his test career in 2012 and had the same energy as he always had. Australia made it tough for South Africa with Clarke’s 230 and Hussey’s 103 and achieved third highest 482 runs on the first day of the test on 5 wickets.
South African bowler Morkel got Warner’s wicket when Smith caught him, he also bowled the highest scorer Clarke while Michael Hussey was bowled by Steyn.
Number 2: Australia vs South Africa, Sydney 1910.
One of the best performances by the Aussies against South Africa came in 1910 when Australia scored 2nd highest runs in a day and it is considered as one of the records of most runs in first day of test match by team. Interestingly it was the 111th match in the history of test cricket, and then captain Clem Hill and Warren Bardsley hit centuries and a milestone of 494 runs became easy with 67 runs from Algy Gehrs. The first innings ended with 528 runs which helped Australia to an easy victory.
During South African bowling, the highest scorer of the day Clem Hills, second highest scorer Bardsley, and Algy Gehrs were bowled by Pearse. Warwick Armstrong who scored 48 was bowled and sent back by Schwarz.
Number 1: England vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi 2022.
The number one position is secured by England, as mentioned above, in the list of most runs in first day of test match by team, England got first and fifth place. Recently in 2022, the English players showed a fearless attitude while playing at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and made a massive score of 506/4.
But how did England make a record of 506 runs on the first day of a test? Let’s see these batting performances of England sportsmen to understand it better. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made 122 and 107 runs respectively and the team got a solid foundation. These two were not the only centuries, England had two more, one from Ollie Pope who hit 108 runs, and the other one from Harry Brook who smashed 101 runs and remained not out.
The test match must have entertained cricket lovers around the world but cricket fans and Pakistan team won’t forget that day as a bad memory.