Highest team totals in India-England Tests
The 92-year-long rivalry between India and England is set to resume on January 25 in Hyderabad, with a five-match series. It took India 20 years and 24 matches to register their maiden win in Test cricket and interestingly, it came against the Three Lions. Under the leadership of Vijay Hazare, the hosts won the match by an innings and eight wins in Chennai, which gave a lot of recognition to India as they went on to become one of the powerhouses of world cricket.
However, Test cricket has changed massively in the last couple of years. Under the leadership of Ben Stokes, England adopted the Bazball strategy, in which they play an aggressive brand of cricket in the longest format. They aren’t shy to declare innings on Day and are neither afraid to chase down improbable targets in the fourth innings. Meanwhile, what are the top three highest team totals in the India-England Tests? Let’s take a look:
3) 664 runs by India in The Oval
The third Test between England and India in 2007 ended on level terms. The visitors registered 664 runs in the first innings, which is India’s fourth-highest total away from home in Test cricket. Notably, Anil Kumble hit a brilliant century as he remained not out on 110 runs, while MS Dhoni made 92 runs.
2) 710 runs by England in Birmingham
England made 710 runs in the second innings of the third Test against India in 2011. Opener Alastair Cook made a marathon 294, while Eoin Morgan hit 104 runs to help England post a massive total. Andrew Strauss and Tim Bresnan too made half-centuries as the visitors looked clueless with the ball. Notably, England dominated with the ball in the second innings, winning the match by an innings and 242 runs.
1) 759 runs by India in Chennai
India registered their highest-ever Test score in Chennai in 2016. Karun Nair became the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century as he finished on 303* runs. On the other hand, opener KL Rahul made 199, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scored a half-century each. India went on to post 759 runs and eventually won the match by an innings and 75 runs.
