Test cricket is a format that requires patience, and it comes with batting for long hours of cricket. Teams tend to do play session by session to stay on the crease for a long time. The team that bat first always looks to bat out the complete first day of the cricket to reach a good substantial total.
However, a team batting out the entire first day of the test match is a normal sight. But what if they score at a rapid rate, batting the whole day? That’s what we saw in the first test match of England’s tour of Pakistan at Rawalpindi Stadium. England won the toss and decided to bat first, and they have broken all the first-day batting records. Here we will talk about the highest score by a team after the first day of a test match.
5. England (471/8) vs India in Aug 1936
The fifth highest score by any team on Day 1 of a test match belongs to England. It came in August 1936, when England locked horns with India. It was England that won the toss and decided to bat, and they batted the whole day. At the end of Day 1, they made 471/8, with Wally Hammond scoring 217 and Stan Worthington scoring 128 runs on Day 1. England made 471/8 d and India replied with 222 and 312 in their two innings. In the end, England won it by nine wickets with 64/1 in their second innings.
4. Australia (475/2) vs England in Aug 1934
Australia holds the fourth-highest total on Day 1, which they made against England in August 1934 at The Oval. They made 475/2 at the stumps on Day 1, with Bill Ponsford (266) and Donald Bradman (244) scoring double centuries. They made 701 runs in the first inning. England scored 321 and Australia batted again to add another 327 runs in their second innings to give England a target of 708 runs. England got all out for 145 runs and lost by a massive 562 runs.
3. Australia (482/5) vs South Africa in Nov 2015
A total of 482/5 was posted by Australia against South Africa during a test in November 2012 at Adelaide Oval. David Warner (119), Michael Hussey (103), and skipper Michael Clarke (230) scored centuries. Australia made 550 runs in the first innings, and South Africa got all out for 388 runs. Australia batted second and declared at 267/8, setting a target of 430. In reply, South Africa was at 248/8 when the game was called a draw.
2. Australia (494/6) vs South Africa in Dec 1910
Australia also holds the second highest score after an opening day of test matches. It came in December 1910, against South Africa, when they scored 494/6 on opening day. Warren Bardsley (132) and skipper Clem Hill (191) scored big centuries. Australia made 528 runs in their first innings. And they bowled South Africa out for 174 runs and 240 runs in two innings to win the game by an innings and 114 runs.
1. England (506/4) vs Pakistan in Dec 2022
The highest opening day score is now registered under the name of England which came most recently in the first game of 2022 England’s tour of Pakistan for three tests. After winning the toss, England chose to bat first, scoring over 6 runs per over in the entire day’s play. With four centurions, they reached a massive score of 506/4 in 75 overs at stumps on Day 1. Zak Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108) and Harry Brook (101*) all scored centuries each.
List of Highest Innings Total after Day 1 in a Test Match
| Team | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 506/4 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 1 Dec 2022 |
| Australia | 494/6 | South Africa | Sydney | 9 Dec 1910 |
| Australia | 482/5 | South Africa | Adelaide | 22 Nov 2012 |
| England | 475/2 | Australia | The Oval | 18 Aug 1934 |
| England | 471/8 | India | The Oval | 15 Aug 1936 |
| Australia | 464/10 | South Africa | Manchester | 27 May 1912 |
| England | 458/3 | Australia | Sydney | 14 Feb 1969 |
| New Zealand | 452/9 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 7 Aug 2005 |
| Australia | 450 all out | South Africa | Johannesburg | 12 Nov 1921 |
| Sri Lanka | 449/7 | Bangladesh | Colombo (PSS) | 20 Sep 2005 |