Leonard Hutton, Don Bradman headline list for highest individual scores in Ashes

Former England opening batter Leonard Hutton is the current record holder for the highest individual score in Ashes.

Widely regarded as one the greatest batters in the history of cricket, Leonard Hutton slammed 364 against arch-rivals Australia at The Oval during the fifth Test of the Ashes series in 1938.

Hutton surpassed legendary cricketer Don Bradman’s 334, which the Australian recorded during an Ashes series in Leeds in 1930.

Among active cricketers, Australia’s Steve Smith holds the record for the highest individual score in Ashes. 

During the third Test of England’s tour of Australia in 2017, Smith scored 239 during their first innings in Perth. His double hundred helped Australia thrash England by an innings and 41 runs. Let’s take a look at the highest individual scores in Ashes history.

Highest individual scores in Ashes

Leonard Hutton | 364 vs Australia, The Oval, 1938

Leonard Hutton etched his name in the history books after he recorded the highest individual score in Ashes in 1938. After trailing 1-0 in the five-match Ashes Test series against, England captain Wally Hammond won the toss and opted to bat in the final Test at The Oval. Having lost an early wicket, Leonard Hutton and Maurice Leyland stitched an incredible 382-run partnership for the second wicket. While Leyland departed for 187, Hutton continued his sensational innings to bring up a magnificent triple hundred. Hutton then broke Bradman's record Ashes score of 334, before he was dismissed for 364. Hutton’s innings included 35 fours and lasted for more than 13 hours, having faced 847 balls. It remains the most runs scored in a Test innings by an English player. Hutton’s innings helped England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs to draw the five-match series 1-1.

Don Bradman | 334 vs England, Leeds, 1930

Former Australia cricketer Don Bradman has the second-highest individual score in Ashes history. During the third Test of Australia’s tour of England in 1930, a young Don Bradman took his batsmanship to the next level as he hammered 334 off just 448 balls at Headingley in Leeds. Interestingly, he scored 309 of those runs in a day’s play and he remains the only Test player to do so. Bradman’s 334 became a world record as he overtook the previous highest of 325 scored by England cricketer Andy Sandham. Despite Bradman’s record knock, the Headingley Test ended in a draw due to inclement weather.

Bob Simpson | 311 vs England, Manchester, 1964

Former Australia captain Bob Simpson features third on the list for highest individual scores in Ashes. Electing to bat first in the fourth Test of the 1964 Ashes series in Manchester, Bob Simpson played a knock for the ages as he converted his maiden Test ton to a triple hundred. The right-handed batter scored 311 to power Australia to a mammoth total of 656/8d. Having faced 743 balls during his 13-hour innings, Simpson slammed 23 fours and one six to record his highest individual score in Test cricket. He also became just the second Australian after Don Bradman to score a triple century in England. Simpson’s batting effort ensured the match ended in a draw and Australia retained the Ashes courtesy their 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

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