Most runs scored in the first session of a Test

England shattered records in their latest Test match against Pakistan when they scored 506 runs on Day 1 in Rawalpindi on December 1. Four players scored centuries with an aggressive approach from the start to help them score the most runs on Day 1 in Test cricket history.

They broke a few other records as they won the match by 74 runs and also surpassed Australia to score the second-highest runs in the first session of a Test. So, let’s take a look at the top three highest scores in the first session of Test cricket history.

173/1 – Australia vs England in 1902

The star Australian batter Victor Trumper smashed 104 runs to become the first-ever cricketer to score a century before a lunch break in Test cricket. His opening partner Reggie Duff contributed quick 54 runs to help Australia score 173/1 in the first session of the fourth Test match of the 1902 Ashes in Manchester to create a world record. However, despite an electrifying start, Australia’s first innings collapsed on just 299 runs.

174/0 – England vs Pakistan in 2022

England’s first Test match in Pakistan in 17 years proved historic for the travelling side as they displayed their aggressive approach in red-ball cricket. England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started with an attacking approach and smashed the fifties with a strike rate of over 100. They scored 174/0 in the first session and scored a record 506/4 at the end of Day 1. They missed out on South Africa’s record for most runs in the first session by just five runs but surpassed Australia’s 173

179/1 – South Africa vs Australia in 1902

South Africa set a world record when they scored 179/1 against Australia in the first session of Day 1 in the first Test in Johannesburg. The Proteas also scored 428/7 on Day 1 with Louis Tancred, Charlie Llewellyn, Dave Nourse, and Barberton Halliwell scoring half-centuries. They broke Australia’s record for most runs in the first session set just three months ago by scoring six more.