Test format is the pinnacle of international cricket, wherein player’s skills, temperament, grit, and resilience are put on a ‘test’. This is one format with a fair bit of battle between bat and ball, unlike the limited-overs cricket.
Batting, in general, is an uphill task in the longest format. However, a few batters have scored heaps of runs, thanks to their ability to counter the opposition’s bowling attack.
Over the years, Test-playing nations have engaged in some intense bilateral series, with a few batters putting in brilliant performances with the bat. These batters have embraced the challenge of playing in any condition, piling up loads of runs in a single Test series.
On that note, here are the top 10 instances of batters with the most runs in a bilateral Test series.
Most Runs by a Batter in a Test Series
| Player | Innings | Runs | Avg | High Score | Test Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Bran (AUS) | 7 | 974 | 139.14 | 334 | England vs Australia, 1930 |
| Wally Hammond (ENG) | 9 | 905 | 113.12 | 251 | Australia vs England, 1928/29 |
| Mark Taylor (AUS) | 11 | 839 | 83.90 | 219 | England vs Australia, 1989 |
| Neil Harvey (AUS) | 9 | 834 | 92.66 | 205 | Australia vs South Africa, 1952/53 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 7 | 829 | 118.42 | 291 | England vs West Indies, 1976 |
| Clyde Walcott (WI) | 10 | 827 | 82.70 | 155 | West Indies vs Australia, 1955 |
| Garry Sobers (WI) | 8 | 824 | 137.33 | 365* | West Indies vs Pakistan, 1957/58 |
| Don Bran (AUS) | 9 | 810 | 90.00 | 270 | Australia vs England, 1936/37 |
| Don Bran (AUS) | 5 | 806 | 201.50 | 299* | Australia vs South Africa, 1931/32 |
| Brian Lara (WI) | 8 | 798 | 99.75 | 375 | West Indies vs England, 1993/94 |
Key Insights
There are over 34 instances of batters accumulating 700+ runs in a Test series. The number shoots to 80+ if we consider batters with 600+ Test runs in a bilateral series.
Don Bran holds the unassailable record for scoring the most runs in a bilateral Test series. The Australian batting maestro garnered 974 runs in 7 innings in the 5-match Ashes series in 1930.
Bran crossed the 700-run mark in 5 Test series, with 3 (974, 810, and 758) of them coming against England and 1 each against South Africa (806) and India (715).
