Top 6 scores by a batsman while carrying his bat through a Test innings

It is quite rare to see an opener bat through the innings in a Test match. The main role of an opener in Test cricket is to blunt out the new ball, so that it becomes a little easier for the middle order. Hence, it is difficult to see a batsman bat through an entire innings in Test cricket.

In cricket’s 141-year history, there have only been 53 instances of a batsman carrying his bat through. Hence, here we look at top 6 scores by a batsman while carrying his bat through the innings.

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#6 Virender Sehwag – 201 vs Sri Lanka (2008)

In 2008, when India toured Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis spun a web around the famed visitors' batting line-up and India lost the 3-match Test series 2-1.

After a thrashing in the first Test, India elected to bat first in Galle. Despite a 167-run opening partnership, India could only manage just 329. Only three batsmen went past the 10-run mark (Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman).

Gambhir and Laxman got starts but didn’t convert into big scores, but Virender Sehwag was absolutely magnificent. He made 201 out of 329 and carried his bat. He went after Muralitharan and Mendis and looked very comfortable against the two of them when the others were failing to read them.

Sehwag played 231 balls and struck 22 fours and 4 sixes. When all the others were struggling to survive, the Delhi dasher batted with a strike-rate of 87. He became the second Indian batsman to carry his bat through a Test innings (the first was Sunil Gavaskar).

In the second innings, Sehwag once again contributed with a 50 as helped India to get off to a good start in the second innings. India set Sri Lanka a target of 307 which they failed to get and it helped India level the series. Sehwag was the Man of the Match for his stupendous performance.

#5 Len Hutton – 202 vs West Indies (1950)

Len Hutton was the fifth triple centurion in Test cricket

Len Hutton was one of the best opening batsmen to have played for England. Having made nearly 7000 Test runs at an average of 56.67, Hutton was the fifth triple centurion in Test cricket.

In August 1950, England were behind in the 4-match series against West Indies. Being 2-1 up, the West Indies racked up 503 batting first. Under pressure, all the England batsmen fell but Len Hutton stood tall. He scored an unbeaten 202 and carried his bat through as he took the hosts to a respectable total of 344. He batted for close to 8 hours and battled it out against a strong West Indies bowling attack.

But England lost the match by an innings and 56 runs as the England batsmen crumbled under pressure in the second innings. But Len Hutton broke quite a number of records. He became the third England batsman to carry his bat through and his knock of 202 was also then the second-highest by a batsman who carried his bat through.

#4 Bill Brown – 206 vs England (1938)

Bill Brown played alongside the great Don Bradman

Not a lot of people would’ve heard the name of Bill Brown. But he was the opening batsman and captain of the Australian team when Don Bradman was scoring all those runs. Brown played 22 Tests and scored 1592 runs at an average of 46.82. He lost his prime cricketing years to the Second World War. But he was the first batsman who carried his bat through the innings and scored a double century.

In the second Test of the 1938 Ashes, England posted 494 batting first. Bill Brown led Australia’s charge. He made a superb unbeaten 206 as he helped Australia get to 422 in reply to England’s big total. He batted for more than six hours and blunted out the England bowling attack. His performance helped Australia draw the game.

His innings of 206 was also the highest score by a batsman who carried his bat and Brown heled the record for almost 55 years.

#3 Marvan Atapattu – 216 vs Zimbabwe (1999)

Marvan Atapattu's 627-minutes vigil at the crease helped Sri Lanka get to 428 in the first innings

Who would’ve thought that Marvan Atapattu, who started his career with 5 ducks in his first 6 innings, would go onto to hit 6 double tons and become one of the best Sri Lankan openers of all time?

In 1999 (nine years after his debut), when Sri Lanka toured Zimbabwe, Marvan Atapattu became the second Sri Lankan to carry his bat. After Zimbabwe made 286 in the first innings, Atapattu scored a brilliant 216 where he carried his bat through and helped Sri Lanka get to 428. The Sri Lankan right-hander batted for more than 10 hours and played 437 deliveries.

He battled hard and helped Sri Lanka take lead. However, the game was drawn as rain played spoilsport on the final day.

#2 Glenn Turner – 223 vs West Indies (1972)

Glenn Turner held the record for the highest score by a batsman while carrying his bat till 2017

Glenn Turner was one of the best New Zealand batsmen of his era. He had a great appetite for runs and scored 2991 runs in 41 Tests.

In 1972, he had a wonderful tour to the Caribbean where he scored 692 runs in 5 Test matches. In the first Test of the 5-match series, he carried his bat through when New Zealand were under pressure. After the West Indies posted 508 in the first innings, Glenn Turner soaked in all the pressure and scored a superb 223 and batted for almost 10 hours. He helped the Kiwis score 386 and keep the West Indies lead to 121. His 223 was the highest score by a batsman who while carry his bat.

His effort helped the Blackcaps avoid a defeat in the first Test of the series. He also scored a scintillating 259 in the 4th Test of the series.

#1 Alastair Cook – 244 vs Australia (2017)

Alastair Cook silenced his critics in style

When England played the Ashes down under in 2017/18, they were 3-0 down after the first three Tests. They had their moments but didn’t capitalize on them and hence, Australia had regained the Ashes. With a couple of Tests to go, the possibility of a 5-0 whitewash loomed large.

Alastair Cook, who had gone through a lean patch, was being scrutinized. Experts started doubting his place in the side. He had gone through a phase where he couldn’t get past the 25-run mark. In fact, in the 10 innings he batted after he scored 243 against the West Indies, he crossed 25 just once.

In the 4th Test (Boxing Day Test) at the MCG, Australia made 327 batting first. England had scored 300+ twice in the six innings of the series. Desperate to avoid another defeat, they needed their senior players to step up. Alastair Cook did that and responded to his critics with a magnificent 244.

He batted for about 10 and a half hours as he defied a brilliant Australian bowling attack. He played Nathan Lyon particularly well. The Essex opener struck 27 boundaries in his 409-ball stay at the crease. Australia suddenly couldn’t get past Cook as he batted with supreme concentration. Hence, he carried his bat through and registered the highest score by a batsman while carrying his bat.

Cook’s monumental effort helped England reach 491 in their first innings. A slow pitch and an excellent hundred from Steve Smith helped Australia draw the game.