Highest partnership in Test: Record stands by each wicket and more

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s 624-run stand for the third wicket against South Africa in July 2006 is the highest partnership in Test cricket. Interestingly, the two also hold the record for the highest partnership in T20 World Cup.

The two Sri Lankan legends joined forces when their team was reduced to 2/14 inside four overs. What happened next was recorded in the history books as the pair went on to bat for the entirety of Day 2 to take Sri Lanka’s total to 5/756.

Jayawardene, in fact, had a chance of breaking Brian Lara’s record for the highest individual score in the longest format (400*) but was dismissed at 374 by Andre Nel. Sangakkara, on the other hand, scored 287 and the pair hit 78 fours and a six between them. Sri Lanka went on to win the match by an innings and 153 runs.

Amidst their record-breaking partnership, the duo went past their countrymen Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama who held the record for the highest partnership in Test for almost 10 years. 

During the first Test of India tour of Sri Lanka in 1997, Jayasuriya and Mahanama played a 576-run stand for the second wicket to post a mammoth total of 952/6d, which also happens to be the highest team total in the longest format. While Jayasuriya scored 340, Mahanama played 561 balls to score 225 runs.

Meanwhile, Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe of New Zealand feature third in the list with a partnership of 467 runs they played against Sri Lanka in 1991. Bill Ponsford and Donald Bradman’s partnership of 451 runs for the second wicket in August 1934 is the fourth-highest partnership in Tests. The duo’s knock, however, is till date the highest partnership in an Ashes series.

Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar’s 451-run stand against India in 1983 complete the top five list for the highest partnership in Test.

Highest partnership in Test

Highest partnership in Test by wicket

Featured photo: AFP / Sanka Vidanagama