Top 10 Longest individual innings in Test cricket history

Top 10 Longest individual innings in Test cricket history

And I repeat again. Batting in a test match apparently seems easier but believe me it is not the same as it looks. The only freedom a batsman gets while batting in a test match is the limitless number of overs. You can take as much time plus deliveries as you like to set your eyes on the ball. And speaking of the time, the cricket world has witnessed some of the longest individual innings in test matches. Unlike limited over cricket, test matches are meant to test the temperament of a batsman. In T20s or ODIs one has to rapid-fire in the overs he gets to bat.

However in test matches, the real skills get tested. Test cricket is the format where batsmen pile up even double hundreds on regular basis. For the record there has been a quadruple century as well in test history. The legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara scored an undefeated record 400 runs against England in 2004. Naturally, when we hear about a batsman gathering so many runs, mind goes to the time he has been on the crease. Surprising it is however, that while making a record 40 runs Brian Lara did not play the longest individual innings in history. Though it was one of the longest innings but is not on top. In fact, the longest individual innings in test cricket belongs to Hanif Mohammad.

The former Pakistani batsman scored 337 runs while batting for a record 970 minutes. The game was played at Bridgetown on January 17^th 1958 against West Indies. Modern day cricketers are not less durable as well, as many present day batsmen feature in the longest individual innings list. Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Younis Khan, all of these finest test batsmen hold the record for one of the longest individual innings. Top 10 of them who played for most number of minutes are as under.

Top 10 Longest individual innings in Test cricket history

Player	Runs	Mins	Balls	4s	6s	Team	Opposition
Hanif Mohammad	337	970	–	24	0	Pakistan	West Indies
G Kirsten	275	878	642	26	0	South Africa	England
AN Cook	263	836	528	18	0	England	Pakistan
ST Jayasuriya	340	799	578	36	2	Sri Lanka	India
L Hutton	364	797	847	35	0	England	Australia
HM Amla	311*	790	529	35	0	South Africa	England
BC Lara	400*	778	582	43	4	West Indies	England
DSBP Kuruppu	201*	777	548	24	0	Sri Lanka	New Zealand
BB McCullum	302	775	559	32	4	New Zealand	India
AN Cook	294	773	545	33	0	England	India