Teams generally look to consolidate their lead in the third innings of a Test. So we often see teams going after big totals.
And this article lists the highest team totals recorded in the third innings in Tests.
Highest 3rd Innings Totals in Test Cricket
| Team | Score | Overs | RPO | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 680/8d | 210.0 | 3.23 | v India | Wellington | 14 Feb 2014 |
| New Zealand | 671/4 | 220.3 | 3.04 | v Sri Lanka | Wellington | 31 Jan 1991 |
| Pakistan | 657/8d | 319.0 | 2.05 | v West Indies | Bridgetown | 17 Jan 1958 |
| India | 657/7d | 178.0 | 3.69 | v Australia | Eden Gardens | 11 Mar 2001 |
| South Africa | 620 | 177.3 | 3.49 | v Australia | Johannesburg | 23 Dec 1966 |
| West Indies | 616 | 137.2×8 | 3.36 | v Australia | Adelaide | 24 Jan 1969 |
| Pakistan | 599/7d | 140.1 | 4.27 | v India | Karachi | 29 Jan 2006 |
| New Zealand | 585/4d | 153.0 | 3.82 | v Sri Lanka | Christchurch | 26 Dec 2018 |
| England | 583/4d | 258.0 | 2.25 | v West Indies | Birmingham | 30 May 1957 |
| Australia | 582 | 185.5 | 3.13 | v England | Adelaide | 14 Jan 1921 |
| Australia | 581 | 192.3 | 3.01 | v England | Sydney | 17 Dec 1920 |
| Australia | 578 | 126.2 | 4.57 | v South Africa | Melbourne | 17 Feb 1911 |
| South Africa | 572/7 | 209.2 | 2.73 | v England | Durban | 26 Dec 1999 |
| England | 570/7d | 172.3 | 3.3 | v South Africa | Durban | 26 Dec 2004 |
| South Africa | 569 | 111.5 | 5.08 | v Australia | W.A.C.A | 30 Nov 2012 |
Dive into Team Totals & Aggregate Records
Highest Match Aggregates by Both Teams in a Test Match
Lowest Match Aggregates by Both Teams in a Test Match
Highest Team Aggregates in a Test Match
Lowest Team Aggregates in a Test Match
Highest Innings Totals in Test Cricket
Highest First Innings Totals in Test Cricket
Highest First Innings Aggregates by Both Teams in a Test Match
Highest Innings Totals for Each Team in Test Cricket
Highest Team Totals in Pink-Ball (Day-Night) Test Matches
Lowest Innings Totals in Test History
Lowest First Innings Totals in Test Cricket
Highest Second Innings Totals in Test
Lowest Innings Totals for Each Team in Test Cricket
Highest Successful Run Chases in Test Cricket
Lowest Targets Successfully Defended in Test Cricket
Highest 4th Innings Totals in Test Cricket
Key Insights on Highest Third Innings Totals in Test Cricket
Record Team Totals in the Third Test Innings
New Zealand have recorded the highest team total in the third innings of a Test match. They declared their innings on 680 for 8 against India in the 2014 Wellington Test.
Brendon McCullum contributed 302 of those runs, the highest individual score by a captain in the third Test innings. Overall, this is the second-highest individual score by any batter in the third innings of a Test.
New Zealand’s innings also became only the 12th instance of three batters scoring a century each in the third innings of a Test. Apart from McCullum, BJ Watling (124) and James Neesham (137*) smashed a hundred each.
Highest Away Totals & Match-Winning Totals in the Third Test Innings
Pakistan’s 657 for 8 (declared) against the West Indies in 1958 is the highest third innings total in an away Test. This was also the first instance of a team scoring 600-plus runs in the third innings.
Pakistan batted for 319 overs while scoring 657 for 8 (declared). This is the longest completed third innings in Tests.
India’s 657 for 7 (declared) against Australia in 2001 is the highest third-innings total in a Test win. Notably, this was the third instance of a team winning a Test after a follow-on.
Highest Scoring Rates, Deficits & Day-Night Milestones in the Third Test Innings
England have recorded the highest third-innings total in a day-night Test. They scored 374 all out against New Zealand in the 2023 Mount Maunganui Test.
India have registered the highest run rate in the third Test innings. They scored at 7.54 to declare their innings on 181 for 2 against the West Indies in the 2023 Port of Spain Test.
England secured an 835-run lead against the West Indies in the 1930 Kingston Test, the highest by a team after the completion of the third Test innings.
Lowest Totals in the Third Test Innings
New Zealand hold the record for the lowest third-innings total in Tests. England bowled them out for a mere 26 runs in the 1955 Auckland Test.
New Zealand’s 26 all out is also the lowest total by a team in Test cricket history.
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