Top 5 Countries With 500+ Scores in Tests (Last 3 years)

It is not every day that a team rakes up 500 runs in a Test innings. They are few and far in between.

Consider this: Only 48 scores of 500 or above have been scored by all the Test playing nations put together in the last 3 years. India’s batting has been in rampaging form, considering 3 out of the top 5 Test scores are India’s. Of the 11 600-plus scores, India has 5 where all the other teams put together have 6.

It comes as no wonder that during this period, India has won 18 and lost just 6 matches, with Australia a distant second with 17 wins, but 12 losses, a lot of them in the sub-continent.

Here, we take a look at the top 5 teams with the most number of 500+ scores over the last 3 years. South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have 3 scores of 500 each while West Indies doesn’t have a single one.

#5 England – 4

3 of England’s 4 500+ scores have come playing away from home, but that didn’t mean they had plenty of success.

Along with their score of 537 against India in Rajkot, in the only Test they managed to draw on a wretched tour, England also notched up 629/6d against South Africa in Cape Town, another draw. England have the third highest Test wins in the last 3 years but their W/L ratio has suffered because of 4 consecutive losses to India.

Overall, England have won 15 and lost 15. Their batting average has been on the lower side at 33.53 but in recent times, that is changing quite rapidly thanks to players like Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes, who are powerful lower middle-order batsmen, consistently upping the scoring rates for England in crucial situations. All 4 of England’s 500-plus scores have come in the last 2 years, showing an upward curve. Joe Root is more aggressive than Alastair Cook as a captain and it remains to be seen if captaincy will affect his batting.

#4 Pakistan – 7

One doesn’t generally associate batting accomplishments with Pakistan, a mercurial side that often wins on its bowling strength. However, Pakistan have done well with the bat in the last 3 years thanks to the stability provided in the middle order by two of their now-retired stalwarts – Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

It helped that they found couple of good players in Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq who ensured they posted enough runs often.

Pakistan have tormented Australia, England and New Zealand at Abu Dhabi but the finest of their 7 500+ scores will have to be the one they scored against England at The Oval, a fine performance indeed. Pakistan have crossed 600 once, against Bangladesh, playing away from home.

Only 3 of the 7 have come in the last 2 years though, and one wonders if they can keep up raking those big numbers without two of their finest middle-order batsmen. With 14 wins and 13 losses, Pakistan averages 36.4 in the last 3 years with the bat, third highest behind India and Australia.

#3 New Zealand – 7

New Zealand have surprisingly arrived as a dark horse on this list, buoyed by two brilliant batting-captains – Brendon McCullum and then, Kane Williamson.

New Zealand have the second highest Test score of 690 in the last 3 years and the highest away, having scored that mammoth total against Pakistan in Sharjah. New Zealand follow that up with another colossal score of 624 against Australia in Perth, one of the toughest places for visiting teams.

New Zealand have a couple of 500-plus totals in Bulawayo and one in the hallowed of grounds, Lord’s. The team that constantly punches above its weight has won 12 and lost 11 matches in the last 3 years, boasting of a batting average of 36.38, narrowly lower than that of Pakistan.

New Zealand have been consistent over the last 3 years, 4 of its 7 500-plus scores coming in the last couple of years, despite losing one of their most prolific Test captains to retirement.

#2 India – 8

India’s batting fortunes have taken a major upswing in the last two years, with the batting coming good, especially at home. All of India’s 8 500-plus scores have come in the last two years, where India has the top 3 Test scores and five of the top 10 Test scores. In fact, in the last two years, India has scored in excess of 600 five times, while England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have achieved it one time each.

New Zealand has done it twice in the last 3 years, while Pakistan did it once. India’s W/L record is a staggering 3.000 in the last three years, miles ahead of any other country, with a batting average of 37.88 in 55 innings, second behind Australia. India is the only country to score in excess of 700 during this time, its highest score 759/7d coming against England in Chennai. India’s 500-plus scores have come in West Indies and Sri Lanka as well.

#1 Australia – 13

Australia leads the charts, head and shoulders over everyone, even though its highest total of 624/8d is only the eighth highest score over the last 3 years.

Interestingly, all but 3 of Australia’s 500-plus scores came in Australia, the other 3 coming in Wellington, Christchurch and Lord’s. Interestingly, Australia has eight 500-plus scores in the last 2 years, tied with India for the first spot.

Australia, which had a W/L record of 1.416 (third behind India and SA) has a batting average of 38.37 from 63 innings, the highest amongst all the teams. Unfortunately, Australia also has the lowest Test score during this period – 60.

None of Australia’s big scores have come in the sub-continent, demonstrating their disastrous trend. But, with two of the Fab 5 batting at the top, and with couple of fresh reinforcements, Australia might continue raking up big scores, especially down under.