Test cricket is one of the most exciting formats of the game. It always brings surprise and excitement to the fans in different ways. Sometimes it is the performance of the bowler, sometimes it is a batsman, and sometimes it is the entire team. But it will not be a wrong statement to say that every match, every day and every session of a test match brings something unexpected.
However, test cricket is a game of patience. It takes a lot of patience from both bowlers and batsmen in this game. However, with the evolution of T20 cricket, batters have begun to take their chances against the bowlers in red-ball cricket as well. As a result, we have seen teams playing attack cricket. And there are a few bowlers who have a rough day. And in this article, we will cover the most runs given in the history of Test cricket.
3. George Bailey 28 runs (462466) off James Anderson
This was the 3rd Test match of the England and Australia series in Australia. Batting first, Australia made 385 runs in the first innings. In response, England got all out for 251 runs, handing the Aussies a lead of 134 runs. Coming out to bat against the Men in Yellow, once again, started well. David Warner (112), and Shane Watson (103) each scored centuries. But the real cameo came from the bat of George Bailey.
He scored an unbeaten 39 runs, but he took apart England’s premium pacer, James Anderson. It was the 87th over of Australia’s second innings. Bailey started the over with a four and a six on the first and second deliveries. On the third ball, he took a double. But on the next three balls, he hit Anderson for a boundary and two consecutive sixes to score 28 runs in one over. He equaled the second most expensive over in test cricket with this.
2. Brain Lara 28 runs (464444) off Robin Peterson
Brain Lara was the first batter to score 28 runs in an over in red-ball cricket. He hit South African spinner Robin Peterson for 28 runs in an over. This was the first match of the South Africa and West Indies series at Johannesburg. Batting first, South Africa made a big total of 561. In reply, the Caribbean team also batted well and scored 410 runs, courtesy of a double hundred from Brain Lara (202). However, in this double century, he played some incredible shots. But the highlight of his innings came in the 120th over of the West Indies’ first innings.
The South African spinner, Robin Peterson, came out to bowl, but Lara took the total attack to him. The left-hander started the over with a four and followed it with two consecutive sixes. And he didn’t stop here as he struck three back-to-back fours to end the over. He hit 28 runs in that over to make it one of the most expensive overs in Test cricket. However, in the end, the West Indies lost that match by 189 runs, but that innings from Lara registered his name in record books..
1. Jasprit Bumrah 35 runs (4wd 4nd 644461) off Stuart Broad (Highest in Test cricket)
Stuart Broad became the first T20I bowler to concede 36 runs in an over when Yuvraj Singh hit him for six sixes in the 2007 World Cup. However, he has now resgitered this unwanted record in Test cicket as well. The fifth and final test match between India and England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, saw an incredible record made by Jasprit Bumrah. He took Broad to the cleaners and hit him all over the ground.
It was the 84th over of India’s first innings. Both Nos. 10 and 11 were at the crease and England were looking to wrap up the tail. So they try to bounce the Indian tailender out. But Bumrah was in another mood. The over started with a four off the bat of Bumrah down to fine leg. The next ball bounced over the keepers’ head and was five wide. The second ball took the edge and went over fine leg for a six, which was a no ball. It was 16 runs off the one legal delivery.
However, it didn’t stop here. Bumrah then hit three consecutive fours and one six over the next four deliveries to break Brain Laara’s record. However, Bumrah took a single off the last ball and collected a total of 35 runs in that over. With this, Stuart Broad became the only bowler to give 35 or more runs in one over twice in international cricket.
List of Most Runs in an Over in Test Cricket
| Player | Score | Against Bowler | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah (India) | 35 | Stuart Broad (England) | Birmingham | 2022 |
| Brain Lara (West Indies) | 28 | Robin Peterson (South Africa) | Johannesburg | 2003-04 |
| George Bailey (Australia) | 28 | James Anderson (England) | Perth | 2013-14 |
| Keshav Maharaj (South Africa) | 28 | Joe Root (England) | Port Elizabeth | 2009-10 |
| Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 27 | Harbhajan Singh (India) | Lahore | 2005-06 |
| CD McMillian (New Zealand) | 26 | Younis Khan (Pakistan) | Hamilton | 2000-01 |
| Brain Lara (West Indies) | 26 | Danish Kaneria (Pakistan) | Multan | 2006-07 |
| Mitchell Johnson (Australia) | 26 | Paul Harris (South Africa) | Johannesburg | 2008-09 |
| Brendon MuCullum (New Zealand) | 26 | Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka) | Christchurch | 2014-15 |