Scoring big runs in Test cricket is hard enough but doing it while carrying the weight of captaincy is extraordinary. These ten cricketers have led by example, delivering marathon innings that are etched into the history of the game.
| Rank | Player | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Lara (WI) | 400* | England | St John’s | 2004 |
| 2 | Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 374 | South Africa | Colombo (SSC) | 2006 |
| 3 | Wiaan Mulder (SA) | 367* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| 4 | Mark Taylor (AUS) | 334* | Pakistan | Peshawar | 1998 |
| 5 | Graham Gooch (ENG) | 333 | India | Lord’s | 1990 |
| 6 | Michael Clarke (AUS) | 329* | India | Sydney | 2012 |
| 7 | Younis Khan (PAK) | 313 | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 2009 |
| 8 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 302 | India | Wellington | 2014 |
| 9 | Bob Simpson (AUS) | 311 | England | Manchester | 1964 |
| 10 | Martin Crowe (NZ) | 299 | Sri Lanka | Wellington | 1991 |
10. Martin Crowe – 299 vs Sri Lanka (1991)
- Team: New Zealand
- Venue: Wellington
- Balls Faced: 523 | Minutes: 610 | Fours: 29 | Sixes: 3
- Crowe fell agonizingly short of a triple century but showed pure class and concentration in one of his finest innings.
9. Brendon McCullum – 302 vs India (2014)
- Team: New Zealand
- Venue: Wellington
- Balls Faced: 559 | Minutes: 775 | Fours: 32 | Sixes: 4
- McCullum’s knock rescued New Zealand from a dire situation, marking the first triple-century in Kiwi history.
8. Bob Simpson – 311 vs England (1964)
- Team: Australia
- Venue: Manchester
- Balls Faced: 743 | Minutes: 762 | Fours: 23 | Sixes: 1
- A gritty innings in the pre-helmet era, built on old-school technique and patience.
7. Younis Khan – 313 vs Sri Lanka (2009)
- Team: Pakistan
- Venue: Karachi
- Balls Faced: 568 | Minutes: 760 | Fours: 27 | Sixes: 4
- Younis anchored the innings to secure Pakistan’s highest individual score since Inzamam.
6. Michael Clarke – 329* vs India (2012)
- Team: Australia
- Venue: Sydney
- Balls Faced: 468 | Minutes: 609 | Fours: 39 | Sixes: 1
- Clarke remained unbeaten, showcasing dominance and flawless shot selection.
5. Graham Gooch – 333 vs India (1990)
- Team: England
- Venue: Lord’s
- Balls Faced: 485 | Minutes: 628 | Fours: 43 | Sixes: 3
- Gooch followed this triple century with 123 in the second innings a rare and incredible match performance.
4. Mark Taylor – 334* vs Pakistan (1998)
- Team: Australia
- Venue: Peshawar
- Balls Faced: 564 | Minutes: 720 | Fours: 32 | Sixes: 1
- Taylor famously declared overnight, equaling Bradman’s score out of respect rather than surpassing it.
3. Wiaan Mulder – 367* vs Zimbabwe (2025)
- Team: South Africa
- Venue: Bulawayo
- Balls Faced: 334 | Minutes: 410 | Fours: 49 | Sixes: 4
- A recent and rapid triple-century with an astonishing strike rate of 109.88, redefining modern Test batting.
2. Mahela Jayawardene – 374 vs South Africa (2006)
- Team: Sri Lanka
- Venue: Colombo (SSC)
- Balls Faced: 572 | Minutes: 752 | Fours: 43 | Sixes: 1
- Jayawardene’s elegant and calculated innings still stands as the highest Test score by an Asian captain.
1. Brian Lara – 400* vs England (2004)
- Team: West Indies
- Venue: St. John’s, Antigua
- Balls Faced: 582 | Minutes: 778 | Fours: 43 | Sixes: 4
- Lara’s unbeaten 400 is the highest individual score in Test history and the gold standard of captaincy batting.
Final Takeaways
- Only 10 captains have crossed the 299-run mark in a single Test innings.
- These feats reflect not only exceptional batting skill but also mental strength, endurance, and leadership.
- Brian Lara remains unchallenged at the top, while Wiaan Mulder’s entry brings a fresh face to this elite list.
Written by RITESH SINGH
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