Test match is a game of partnerships. There is no restriction of the number of overs; all the batsmen have their own time to score at their will. It is not often we see a one man’s show in a Test inning like in the limited over games.
There have been many totals of over 450 and few over 500 were no batsman scored a century which clearly means that there was a small important contribution by all batsmen in the inning.
The highest inning total not to contain a century is India’s 524/9 against New Zealand at Kanpur in 1976/77. The highest score in the inning was not even 75. There were six individual half-centuries and the highest score was 70 by Mohinder Amarnath.
There are three more totals over 500 which did not have anyone scoring century. Let’s list them to see in more detail.
TOTALS OF 480 OR MORE WITHOUT AN INDIVIDUAL CENTURY
Total | Highest | Batsman | For | Against | Venue | Season |
524/9 dec | 70 | Mohinder Amarnath | India | New Zealand | Kanpur | 1976/77 |
520/7 dec | 99 | Simon Katich | Australia | West Indies | Perth | 2009/10 |
517 | 87* | Brian McMillan | South Africa | Australia | Adelaide | 1997/98 |
500/8 dec | 95 | Mudassar Nazar | Pakistan | Australia | Melbourne | 1981/82 |
488 | 94 | Habibul Bashar | Bangladesh | Zimbabwe | Chittagong | 2004/05 |
485 | 88 | Allan Border | Australia | New Zealand | Christchurch | 1992/93 |
485 | 99 | Sourav Ganguly | India | Sri Lanka | Nagpur | 1997/98 |
481 | 91 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | England | Nottingham | 2007 |
480/8 dec | 92 | Simon Katich | Australia | West Indies | Brisbane | 2009/10 |
- Two of the above instances were in the same Test series – Australia vs West Indies in West Indies in 2009/10. And on both occasions, the highest score in the inning was Simon Katich (99 and 92).
- All of the above instances were in the first inning of the match except India’s 481 in 2007 was in the second inning of the match.
- There were six half-centuries in India’s 524/9 and Pakistan’s 500/8.
- There are three 300+ totals with no individual 50+ score.
- Below the table lists the highest totals with no individual 50+ score in Tests.
TOTALS OF 270 OR MORE WITHOUT AN INDIVIDUAL HALF-CENTURY
Total | Highest | Batsman | For | Aganinst | Venue | Season |
315 | 47 | David Gower | England | West Indies | Port of Spain | 1985/86 |
304 | 42 | Steve Harmison | England | South Africa | Cape Town | 2004/05 |
302 | 44 | Peter van der Merwe | South Africa | New Zealand | Wellington | 1963/64 |
296/8 dec | 45* | Nayan Mongia | India | New Zealand | Cuttack | 1995/96 |
284 | 48 | Tapash Baisya | Bangladesh | West Indies | Kingston | 2004 |
280 | 49 | Gordon Greenidge | West Indies | Australia | Melbourne | 1988/89 |
279 | 43* | Brett Lee | Australia | England | Birmingham | 2005 |
278/8 dec | 44 | Gary Kirsten | South Africa | England | Lord’s | 1994 |
273 | 48 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | South Africa | Dunedin | 2011/12 |
Lowest completed inning to include a century is New Zealand’s 159 against England at Christchurch in 1962/63 where John Reid scored 100.
Lowest total (no qualification) to include a century is Pakistan’s 135/1 against India at Lahore in 1982/83 where Mohsin Khan scored 101.
Lowes total to include a double century is India’s 329 against Sir Lanka at Galle in 2008 in which Virender Sehwag scored 201*.
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