5 biggest run fests in Test cricket since 2000

After the advent of T20 cricket, Test cricket has come under the scanner. The dwindling viewership and declining interest among fans don’t hold the format in great shape. The advertisement of Test cricket is of prime importance and can’t be compromised by any stretch of the imagination.

There have been occasions in test match Cricket in the past where the batsmen racked up runs at will, while the bowlers haplessly tried their hearts out and that is not the appropriate advertisement of the oldest version of the game.

Let us go through five of the biggest run fests in test Cricket since 2000-

#5 Pakistan vs India, 2nd Test, Faisalabad, 2006

The second Test of India’s tour of Pakistan turned out to be a delight for batsmen and a nightmare for bowlers. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan racked up 588 runs in their first innings.

Shahid Afridi’s majestic knock of 156 runs, supported by Inzamam-ul-Haq’s elegant ton helped Pakistan reach the mammoth total. R.P Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4/89. However, tons from Rahul Dravid and M.S Dhoni spearheaded India to a first innings lead.

During Pakistan’s second innings, Younis Khan’s jaw-dropping 194 runs and Mohammed Yousuf’s classical century helped Pakistan set a target of 476 runs for India. Zaheer Khan, after picking up 3 wickets in Pakistan’s first innings returned with figures of 4/61 in the second innings too.

During the fag end of Day 5, V.V.S Laxman and Rahul Dravid completed the formalities for India while Afridi and Younis bowled the eight overs for Pakistan.

Brief Scores

Pakistan, 1st innings: 588 all out, Shahid Afridi 156, Inzamam-ul-Haq 119; R.P Singh 4/89, Zaheer Khan 3/135

India, 1st innings: 603 all out, M.S. Dhoni 148, Rahul Dravid 103; Danish Kaneria 3/165, Shahid Afridi 2/91

Pakistan, 2nd innings: 490/8 dec, Younis Khan 194, Mohammad Yousuf 126; Zaheer Khan 4/61, R.P Singh 1/75

India, 2nd innings: 21/0, V.V.S Laxman 8*, Rahul Dravid 5*; Shahid Afridi 0/16, Younis Khan 0/5

Ben Stokes took South Africa's bowling to the cleaners at Newlands

#4 England vs South Africa, 2nd Test Cape Town, 2016

74.47- The average runs/wicket in the second Test of England’s tour of South Africa- the highest ever in a Test match in South Africa. It undoubtedly exemplified the nature of the batting strip at the Newlands in Cape Town.

After Alistair Cook won the toss and elected to bat, the match stood in the balance with the score at 223/5. However, Ben Stokes stomped out and carted the Proteas bowlers to a score of 258 runs in 198 balls, which included 11 monstrous hits into the stands.

Jonathan Bairstow provided him apt support with a quick-fire knock of 150 runs. The partnership of 399 runs piled on 627 runs for England in the first innings. Nonetheless, Hashim Amla’s patient double hundred and Temba Bavuma’s maiden Test ton propelled South Africa’s score to 627/7.

England stuttered during their second innings courtesy Dane Piedt’s 3-wicket haul. Nevertheless, despite England's stutter, the match eventually ended in a draw.

Brief Scores

England, 1st innings: 629/6 dec, Ben Stokes 258, Jonathan Bairstow 150*; Kagiso Rabada 3/175, Morne Morkel 1/114

South Africa, 1st innings: 627/7 dec, Hashim Amla 201, Temba Bavuma 102*; Stuart Broad 2/94, Steven Finn 2/132

England, 2nd innings: 159/6, Jonathan Bairstow 30*, Joe Root 29; Dane Piedt 3/38, Chris Morris 1/24

Kumar Sangakkara scored an exquisite double century in the first innings at Colombo

#3 India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Colombo, 2010

India suffered a batting letdown at Galle and consequently, slumped to a 10-wicket defeat. However, in the second Test, they came back strongly. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first on a decent batting wicket.

The Indian bowlers struggled throughout while the Lankan batsmen made hay and racked up a score of 642/4. Kumar Sangakkara top scored with 219 runs while Tharanga Parnavitana and Mahela Jayawardena scored 100 and 174 runs respectively.

Nevertheless, India stormed back with a strong reply and scored 707 runs in their first innings. Virender Sehwag commenced proceedings with a swashbuckling knock of 99 runs. Sachin Tendulkar carried forward the good work and dished out 203 runs in 347 balls.

Suresh Raina also impressed with a ton in his debut Test match. India declared at the stroke of lunch on Day 5. However, by then, the game was already destined for a draw. Sri Lankan batsmen scored 129/3 after which both teams decided to shake hands.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka, 1st innings: 642/4 dec, Kumar Sangakkara 219, Mahela Jayawardena 174; Virender Sehwag 1/71, Ishant Sharma 1/102

India, 1st innings: 707 all out, Sachin Tendulkar 203, Suresh Raina 120; Ajantha Mendis 4/172, Tilekaratne Dilshan 3/56

Sri Lanka, 2nd innings: 129/3 dec, Kumar Sangakkara 42*, Tharanga Parnavitana 34; Virender Sehwag 1/17, Abhimanyu Mithun 1/17

Ramnaresh Sarwan raced away to his highest Test score at Barbados

#2 England vs Windies, 4th Test, Barbados, 2009

The fourth Test at Bridgetown in Barbados dished out another run-fest, which ultimately resulted in a draw. England won the toss and elected to bat first. A stand of 220 runs between Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss laid the foundation for a monstrous score.

England lost some wickets midway, but Ravi Bopara’s maiden Test ton and Paul Collingwood’s 96 runs garnered some momentum for England. The duo stitched together a stand of 149 runs and helped England to a total of 600/6.

Replying to the mammoth target, Windies piled on 749 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Ramnaresh Sarwan raced away to his highest Test score of 291 runs while Denesh Ramdin supported him appropriately with an innings of 166 runs.

In their second innings, the English batsmen looked unflustered and racked up 279/2 in 81 overs. Alistair Cook made up for the missed opportunity of a ton in the first innings and scored 139 runs with 15 boundaries.

Brief Scores

England, 1st innings: 600/6 dec, Andrew Strauss 142, Ravi Bopara 104; Fidel Edwards 3/151, Sulieman Benn 1/106

Windies, 1st innings: 749/9 dec, Ramnaresh Sarwan 291, Denesh Ramdin 166; Graeme Swann 5/165, James Anderson 3/125

England, 2nd innings: 279/2 dec, Alistair Cook 139*, Kevin Pietersen 72*; Chris Gayle 1/46, Sulieman Benn 1/64

A jubilant Younis Khan after his triple century

#1 Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Karachi, 2009

The pitch curated for the 1st Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan turned out to be a paradise for batsmen and a graveyard for bowlers. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first on a bright and sunny morning.

Debutant Tharanga Parnavitana succumbed to Umar Gul’s out-swinger. Kumar Sangakkara played a gritty hand of 70 runs. Nonetheless, it was the 437-runs stand between Mahela Jayawardena and Thilan Samaraweera that shepherded the Lankans to the mammoth score of 644/7.

Runs haemorrhaged from the blades of Pakistani batsmen as well. The sub-continent team replied back with a total of 765/6 in their first innings. Younis Khan played a captain’s hand and racked up a patient knock of 313 runs in 568 balls which spanned nearly 13 hours.

Kamran Akmal also chipped in with a blistering knock of 158 runs in 184 balls. Sri Lanka lost a few wickets in their second innings, but the match, by then, was already headed for a draw.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka, 1st innings: 644/7 dec, Mahela Jayawardena 240, Thilan Samaraweera 231; Danish Kaneria 3/170, Shoaib Malik 2/140

Pakistan, 1st innings: 765/6 dec, Younis Khan 313, Kamran Akmal 158*; Dilhara Fernando 2/124, Mahela Jayawardena 1/41

Sri Lanka, 2nd innings: 144/5, Kumar Sangakkara 65, Thilan Samaraweera 24*; Danish Kaneria 2/35, Umar Gul 2/41