Top 5 highest individual Test scores in 2019 so far

With the introduction of the ICC Test Championship, all the teams are now focusing more on results rather than settling for draws. This changed strategy has resulted in many match-winning contributions from players in recent times.

The top Test players of this generation like Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson have been leading by example, constantly making significant contributions to their team’s success. But traveling batsmen have continued to find it difficult to score runs, which is why it's not surprising to see that most of the top scores this year have been registered at home.

Before we get to the list of the top 5 highest individual scores in 2019, here are the five cricketers who make up the bottom half of the top 10 list:

#10 Rohit Sharma (IND) - 176 vs South Africa (Venue - Vizag)

#9 Joe Burns (AUS) - 180 vs Sri Lanka (Venue - Canberra)

#8 Cheteshwar Pujara (IND) - 193 vs Australia (Venue - Sydney)

#7 Ross Taylor (NZ) - 200 vs Bangladesh (Venue - Wellington)

#6 Kane Williamson (NZ) - 200* vs Bangladesh (Venue - Hamilton)

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#5 Jason Holder - 202*

Jason Holder celebrating after hitting his maiden double century in Test cricket

After their batsmen had scored 289 runs in the first innings of the first Test, the West Indies pacers gave their team an upper hand by dismissing England for just 77. But a top-order collapse in the second innings opened the gates for a comeback for the English team.

Holder came into bat when his team was 120/6 in the second innings. He put on an unbeaten 295 run partnership along with Shane Dowrich to put his team in a commanding position.

Holder played his natural aggressive game and hit the England bowlers all around the park. He remained unbeaten on 202 and helped his team set up a mammoth target of 628 runs. The knock brought his all-round ability into the limelight and showcased his Test batting prowess.

Holder hit 23 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of 88.20 during this stroke-filled innings. West Indies won the match comfortably by 381 runs.

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#4 Steve Smith - 211

Steve Smith

After serving a ban for one year, Steve Smith made a triumphant comeback into the Test cricket arena during the Ashes series this year. In the fourth Test of the series, Smith scored a match-winning double century and ensured that the urn stayed with the Aussies.

Smith came into bat when his team was in a spot of bother, as the Aussies had been reduced to 28-2. He took the onus on himself and scored a sublime double century to take his team to a commanding position at the end of the first innings.

Smith's knock included 24 fours and 2 sixes, and Australia ended up winning the match by 185 runs.

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#3 Rohit Sharma - 212

Rohit Sharma

This is arguably Rohit Sharma's best innings of his six-year-long Test career. Rohit started in typical fashion as he patiently saw off the new ball and gave ample respect to the bowlers by leaving the balls outside the off-stump.

Rohit then joined hands with fellow Mumbaikar Ajinkya Rahane when India was struggling at 39-3. The duo put on a 267-run partnership and took the team to a strong position.

Rohit went on to score his maiden double century on the second day of the Test and seemingly sealed his place in the XI - at least until the next Test series.

He hit 28 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 83.13 in this innings.

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#2 Mayank Agarwal - 215

Mayank Agarwal celebrating after his maiden double century

After scoring a double century and a century in the recently concluded South Africa series, Mayank Agarwal has seemingly sealed his opening slot for the foreseeable future. During the Vizag Test, Agarwal scored a fluent double century in the first innings and helped India score over 500.

Agarwal and Rohit put on a massive 317-run partnership for the first wicket and gave India an early advantage in the three-match series. His 371-ball knock included 23 fours and 6 sixes.

India won the match comfortably by 203 runs in the end.

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#1 Virat Kohli - 254*

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli scored his highest Test score of 254* in the second Test of the recently concluded series against South Africa.

Kohli came in to bat when Team India had lost Cheteshwar Pujara’s wicket at 163. The skipper then stitched useful partnerships with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja and took India to a mammoth first innings total of 601/5.

His 336-ball knock included 33 fours and 2 sixes. India won the match by an innings and 135 runs in the end.