Top 3 highest Day 1 scores in Test cricket

The first day of a Test match is considered very important for the eventual result of a red ball match. While every day of a Test match has its significance, the start of a match dictates how the match could head.

In many instances, the result of a Test match depends on how well a team plays on the first day, be it with the bat or ball. Some teams have scored a lot of runs in their first match of a Test to set the right platform for the rest of the game.

Here are the 3 highest scores registered by teams on the first day of a Test match:

494 runs by Australia against South Africa in Sydney (1910)

Back in 1910, more than 11 decades ago, an insane record was set, which was broken only after 112 years. South Africa, which was inexperienced at the highest level back in the 1910s, toured Australia for a series. One of the tests was in Sydney, where Australia scored a mammoth 494 runs on the very first day.

498 runs by England against Zimbabwe in Nottingham (2025)

The list of the greatest number of runs on the first day of a Test match is dominated by England under their Bazball approach. In the ongoing Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England posted a whopping 498 runs on the first day, which is the second highest for a team on the first day of a Test match.

506 runs against Pakistan in Rawalpindi (2022)

This was the peak of Bazball in 2022 when England was scoring runs for fun across different parts of the globe. It was the ultimate demonstration of aggressive and fearless batting, as English batters took on the Pakistani bowlers in their backyard on a flat Rawalpindi track on Day 1. They posted 506 runs on the very first day, which is still the record for the most runs on the first day of a Test match.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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