Highest 1st Wicket Partnerships in Test
In Test Cricket, one always remember the stellar knocks played by world-class batsmen or heroic spells produced by the bowlers. Very seldom you see a Test Cricket being remembered for a partnership. While exceptions are always there, however, people tend to forget great partnerships that have helped the teams get over the line, especially in Test Cricket.
It’s the partnerships that help the team dominate a Test match. Two batsmen putting on a partnership gives assurance to a team and puts the opposition to the backfoot. As a result, the bowling attack tends to lose out on the lengths, which further leads to a lot of frustration.
In Test cricket, we have seen some huge partnerships being made on the cricket ground. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara hold the record for putting on the highest partnership in Test Cricket for any wicket.
In this article, we have listed down 5 highest 1st wicket partnerships in Test Cricket:
#5 Bill Lawry and Reg Simpson (382 Runs)
The fourth Test between West Indies and Australia in 1965 saw Bill Lawry and Reg Simpon producing one stellar partnership for the first wicket. Both the batsmen gave a fine start to the team as they put together 382 runs for the opening wicket before Simpson got cleaned bowled by W Hall. R Simpson scored a stellar knock of 201 runs, while Lawry too scored a double century as they duo helped Australia put on a mammoth 650-run total in the first innings. The match, though, ended in a tie.
#4 Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis (387 Runs)
With West Indies scoring 365 runs in the first innings, New Zealand needed a good start in the second innings and the opening duo of Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis gave the side just that. The duo played with superb concentration and didn’t let the opposition take any wicket for the first two sessions. Turner and Jarvis put on a record 387-run partnership for the opening wicket before Jarvis got out leg before off Haward. The 3897-run partnership between the Kiwi players sits third in the list of 5 highest 1st wicket partnership in Test Cricket.
#3 Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (410 Runs)
The first Test between India and Pakistan in Lahore during 2006 series is fondly remembered because of an epic partnership between Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag for the opening wicket. Batting first, Pakistan had compiled a mammoth 679-run total in the first innings, courtesy couple of sensational knocks from Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. Pakistan thought to put pressure on India and get them out cheaply, however, Sehwag and Dravid had other plans.
The duo compiled to score a record 410 runs for the opening wicket and made the record of recording the third-highest first wicket partnership in Tests. India scored 410 runs in the second innings and the match ended in a draw.
#2 Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy (420 Runs)
The epic opening partnership between Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against New Zealand in 1956 is the second-highest first wicket partnership in Tests. The duo set the foundation for a big total while batting first and put New Zealand on the backfoot. Mankad scored 231 runs, while Roy amassed 173 as India put on a massive 537 runs in the first innings.
New Zealand had no answers to that as they got out twice on 209 and 2019, thereby handing India a massive win by an innings and 109 runs.
#1 Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith (458 Runs)
South African duo of Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith holds the record for the highest opening partnership in Tests. The duo put together a 414-run partnership for the opening wicket against Bangladesh in 2008. Skipper Smith scored 232 runs off 277 balls, while McKenzie amassed 226 runs off 388 balls as the duo helped the put on a massive 583-run total in the first innings. South African won the game by an innings and 205 and with that also wrapped up series win.
