The player coming in to bat at number 3, just after the dismissal of an opener, always carried importance in any batting line-up. Sometimes the team’s fate in a match depends on the one-down batter’s performance because the position can be the rock and the wall, which could save them from a failed start and leads them to a winning total.
The importance and role of the No. 3 batter in Test cricket are explained in detail in this blog.
Here in this article, we will be getting to know about the top 5 highest score by a number 3 batter in Test cricket.
Highest Individual Scores by No. 3 Batters in Tests
| Player | Score (Balls) | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Lara (WI) | 400* (582) | England | St John’s | 10 Apr 2004 |
| Brian Lara (WI) | 375 (538) | England | St John’s | 16 Apr 1994 |
| Sir Garry Sobers (WI) | 365* (-) | Pakistan | Kingston | 26 Feb 1958 |
| Wally Hammond (ENG) | 336* (-) | New Zealand | Auckland | 31 Mar 1933 |
| Don Bran (AUS) | 334 (448) | England | Leeds | 11 Jul 1930 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 319 (482) | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 4 Feb 2014 |
| Younis Khan (PAK) | 313 (568) | Sri Lanka | Karachi | 21 Feb 2009 |
| Hashim Amla (SA) | 311* (529) | England | The Oval | 19 Jul 2012 |
| Don Bran (AUS) | 299* (-) | South Africa | Adelaide | 29 Jan 1932 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 291 (386) | England | The Oval | 12 Aug 1976 |
#5 Don Bran (AUS) – 334 vs England (Leeds, 1930)
Don Bran is definitely the best person to have graced this sport of cricket with his incredible skills and sheer dominance against any other cricketing side back then.
It was way back in 1930 when Bran produced a masterclass of innings – his insane Test records. He was at 105* before the second session of the day.
Overall that Ashes series was one of the most memorable ones for him. Having hit a score of 254 at Lord’s in the previous Test, he bettered that with a massive 334 against at Headingley, Leeds. The match, though, ended in a draw.
#4 Walter Hammond (ENG) – 336* vs New Zealand (Auckland, 1933)
Next, we have is, one of the finest cricketers to have ever played for England. He had an average of 58.45 and hit 22 great centuries in just 85 matches taking his run tally to 7249. This all just talks about the class and the aura he used to have.
Just a few years after the record-breaking Bran act, this cricketing maniac went on to better that record by suring Don’s total by smashing an outstanding knock of 336* against the not-so-great (then) bowling attack of New Zealand. The Kiwis elected to bat first and bowled out for a paltry score of 158.
England was looking for a win here, with the first game ending in a draw. The openers did provide a bit of resistance to the moving new ball, but they could not convert their starts. Then came Walter, who had a different plan just to go and express his game. He was the only person in the match to reach a three-figure score for either of the sides. He scored more runs than all the other players had in total.
#3 Sir Garfield Sobers (WI) – 365* vs Pakistan (Kingston, 1958)
Gary Sobers was a magical all-rounder. He excelled in every aspect of the game besides wicket-keeping ability, which made him a great asset to the West Indies cricket team for many years.
He had saved his best for this magnificent knock against Pakistan, scoring an unbeaten 365. While batting first, Pakistan scored 328, and it required Windies to put up a good show with the bat. As expected, the batters did not disappoint, with opener Conrad Hunte scoring a double-century and forming a formidable partnership with Gary to help them remove the game from Pakistan’s hand and post West Indies a mountainous total of 790 runs – the highest-ever West Indian total in Tests so far.
The 365* consisted of nicely timed 38 sweet boundaries, and he took 614 deliveries to reach that figure. This record was then the highest individual score in the history of Test cricket, until after 36 years came his fellow countryman Brian Lara who sured that score. West Indies comfortably won that game with an innings and 174 runs.
