Test cricket has witnessed several match-winning partnerships throughout its storied history. Among these, a select few partnerships stand out for their sheer longevity. Legends of the game, such as Gary Sobers and Don Bradman, have been involved in some of the longest partnerships ever recorded in Test cricket.
Batting long with patience is an art in Test cricket and very few batters have been able to ace the game over the years. There have been instances in the past where batters have combined brilliantly to notch up different batting records.
Sri Lankan legends, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene hold the record for the highest partnership in Test cricket, putting together a remarkable 624 runs. Close behind them are Roshan Mahanama and Sanath Jayasuriya with a partnership of 576 runs, while Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe follow with a stand of 467 runs.
Take a look at the top 15 highest partnerships in Test cricket.
Top 15 Highest Partnerships in Test cricket
| Rank | Players | Team | Opposition | Runs | Wicket | Ground | Year |
| 1 | Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | South Africa | 624 | 3rd | Colombo (SSC) | 2006 |
| 2 | Roshan Mahanama, Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | India | 576 | 2nd | Colombo (RPS) | 1997 |
| 3 | Andrew Jones, Martin Crowe | New Zealand | Sri Lanka | 467 | 3rd | Wellington | 1991 |
| 4 | Bill Ponsford, Don Bradman | Australia | England | 451 | 2nd | The Oval | 1934 |
| 5 | Mudassar Nazar, Javed Miandad | Pakistan | India | 451 | 3rd | Hyderabad (Sind) | 1983 |
| 6 | Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh | Australia | West Indies | 449 | 4th | Hobart | 2015 |
| 7 | Garfield Sobers, Conrad Hunte | West Indies | Pakistan | 446 | 2nd | Kingston | 1958 |
| 8 | Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 438 | 2nd | Bulawayo | 2004 |
| 9 | Thilan Samaraweera, Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | 437 | 4th | Karachi | 2009 |
| 10 | Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar | South Africa | Bangladesh | 429* | 3rd | Chattogram | 2003 |
| 11 | Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie | South Africa | Bangladesh | 415 | 1st | Chattogram | 2008 |
| 12 | Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad | India | New Zealand | 413 | 1st | Chennai | 1956 |
| 13 | Peter May and Colin Cowdrey | England | West Indies | 411 | 4th | Birmingham | 1957 |
| 14 | Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid | India | Pakistan | 410 | 1st | Lahore | 2006 |
| 15 | Don Bradman and Sid Barnes | Australia | England | 405 | 5th | Sydney | 1946 |
1. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (624 runs)
On July 27, 2006, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene orchestrated a record-breaking third-wicket partnership of 624 runs against South Africa.
South Africa batted first, managing only 169 runs in their first inning. Sri Lanka’s response seemed shaky when they lost two wickets for a mere 14 runs. However, what followed was the greatest partnership in cricket history. Sangakkara racked up 287 runs, while Jayawardene scored 374 runs, which is his highest knock in Test cricket. Sri Lanka eventually won the match by an inning and 153 runs.
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2. Roshan Mahanama and Sanath Jayasuriya (576 runs)
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo witnessed history on August 2, 1997, as Roshan Mahanama and Sanath Jayasuriya crafted a majestic partnership of 576 runs against India for the second wicket.
India, batting first, declared at 537/8 in 167.3 overs. However, the incredible partnership between Jayasuriya and Mahanama ensured that the match eventually ends in a draw. Mahanama scored 225, including 27 fours. Jayasuriya piled up 340 runs, laced with 36 fours and two sixes.
3. Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe (467 runs)
At the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, on January 31, 1991, Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe stitched together a third-wicket partnership of 467 runs against Sri Lanka.
Batting first, New Zealand was bowled out for 174 runs. In response, Sri Lanka scored 497 runs. Trailing by 323 runs, New Zealand were helped by this record-breaking partnership which helped draw the match. Jones scored 186 runs, while Crowe finished on 299 runs with 29 fours and three sixes.
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4. Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman (451 runs)
At The Oval in England in 1934, there was a batting onslaught from Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman in the Ashes. Their second-wicket partnership of 451 runs exemplified the essence of Australian cricketing dominance. This still remains the highest partnership ever recorded in the Ashes.
Batting first, Australia lost an early wicket. Bradman joined Ponsford, and together they created havoc. Ponsford and Bradman scored 266 and 244 runs respectively, helping Australia post a total of 701. Australia went on to win the match by 562 runs, which is still the second-largest victory by runs in Test cricket history.
5. Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad (451 runs)
In Pakistan’s Hyderabad, on January 14, 1983, Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad orchestrated a match-winning partnership against arch-rivals India. Their third-wicket partnership of 451 runs is the fifth-highest partnership in Test cricket.
Miandad scored an unbeaten 280 off 460 balls, while Nazar contributed 231 off 444 balls, leading their team to a victory by an innings and 119 runs.
6. Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh (449 runs)
Australia’s Bellerive Oval in Hobart bore witness to a batting masterclass on December 10, 2015, as Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh fearlessly took on the West Indian bowling attack with a partnership of 449 runs for the fourth wicket.
Marsh scored 182, while Voges scored an unbeaten 269, leading Australia to declare their first innings at 583/4. The massive partnership ensured Australia won by an innings and 212 runs.
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7. Garry Sobers and Conrad Hunte (446 runs)
Kingston’s Sabina Park in Jamaica was the stage for Garry Sobers and Conrad Hunte’s majestic partnership on February 26, 1958, against Pakistan. Their partnership of 446 runs for the second wicket is the seventh-highest partnership in Test cricket.
Sobers, who was just 21 years old at the time, scored an astonishing 365 not out. This innings broke a Test batting record that had stood for 20 years, surpassing Len Hutton’s 364 against Australia in 1938. The West Indies declared their innings at 790 for 3 and eventually won the match by an innings and 174 runs.
8. Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu (438 runs)
In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on May 14, 2004, Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu created a run fest. Their partnership of 438 runs for the second wicket is the eighth-highest partnership in Test cricket.
Batting first, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 228, in reply to which Atapattu (249) and Kumar Sangakkara (270) registered the record-breaking partnership. Sri Lanka went on to win by an innings and 254 runs.
9. Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene (437 runs)
Karachi’s National Stadium witnessed a batting extravaganza on February 21, 2009, as Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene orchestrated a masterpiece against Pakistan. They together scored 437 runs for the fourth wicket.
Samaraweera was dismissed for 231 runs, while Jayawardene remained unbeaten on 240 as Sri Lanka declared at 644/7.
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10. Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar (429 runs)
In Chattogram, Bangladesh, on April 24, 2003, Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar made it to the list of top 10 highest partnership in Test cricket history with a monumental third-wicket partnership of 429 runs against Bangladesh.
Rudolph (222) and Dippenaar (177) helped South Africa declare at 470. This was an incredible performance from Rudolph, as it was his debut match. He batted for over eight and a half hours, facing 383 balls.
11. Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie (415 runs)
Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie set a South African record when they added 415 runs for the first wicket against Bangladesh in Chattogram on February 29, 2008.
This opening stand was a dominant performance that highlighted how dominant South Africa was back in the day, especially in overseas conditions. This is the second highest Test partnership for South Africa even till this day.
12. Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad (413 runs)
Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad held the record for the highest opening partnership in Test cricket for 52 years, scoring 413 runs for India against New Zealand in Chennai on January 6, 1956.
Their partnership set a benchmark for Indian cricket and it still remains the longest partnership in Test cricket by an Indian opening duo.
13. Peter May and Colin Cowdrey (411 runs)
Peter May and Colin Cowdrey amassed a 4th wicket partnership of 411 runs for England against the West Indies in Birmingham on May 30, 1957. Their exceptional stand rescued England from a precarious position, and it showed the fight they put up against a relentless West Indian bowling attack.
14. Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (410 runs)
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid shared a remarkable 1st wicket partnership of 410 runs for India against Pakistan in Lahore on January 13, 2006.
Sehwag’s aggressive strokeplay, combined with Dravid’s steady technique, dismantled the Pakistani bowling attack, putting India in a commanding position during the match. This Test highest partnership neutralised the Pakistan bowling attack.
15. Don Bradman and Sid Barnes (405 runs)
The legendary Don Bradman and Sid Barnes put together a 5th wicket partnership of 405 runs for Australia against England in Sydney on December 13, 1946.
This partnership not only helped Australia recover from an early collapse but also reinforced Bradman’s reputation as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.
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FAQ’s about Highest Partnership in Test
Q) What is the highest partnership in Tests for India?
A) The highest partnership for India in Test cricket is held by Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy. This partnership came in 1956 during a Test match against New Zealand in Madras. Mankad and Roy scored 413 runs together. Mankad scored 231 runs, while Roy contributed 173 runs
Q) What is the highest partnership recorded in the history of Test cricket?
A) As for the highest partnership recorded in the history of Test cricket, it is 624 runs, set by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka against South Africa in the 2006 Colombo Test match.
Q) Which pair holds the second-highest Test partnership for South Africa?
A) Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie with 415 runs against Bangladesh in 2008.
Q) Which Australian pair had a 405-run partnership in Test cricket?
A) Don Bradman and Sid Barnes scored 405 runs against England in 1946.
Q) What was the highest 4th wicket partnership for England in Test cricket?
A) Peter May and Colin Cowdrey set a 411-run partnership against the West Indies in 1957.
