2017 Records: Top Five Highest Team Totals in Tests
Jan 9, 2019 at 3:49 PM
The year 2017 saw 43 Tests matches in all being played, and only six out of them finding no result. Most of the matches have had the high scores being hit majorly because of the influence of T20 cricket and the pitches favouring the batsmen.
The year also saw various batting records getting broken, as the bat dominated the ball throughout the year. Not just the records; 2017 also saw the emergence of Bangladesh as an improved Test team, as they managed to defeat teams like Sri Lanka and Australia at home in Tests which has increased the popularity of Tests in such growing countries.
The year also saw teams like Ireland and Afghanistan getting Test status, and both the teams are set to play their first Test next year. Ireland is scheduled to play against Pakistan while Afghanistan will play their first against India in India.
Talking about India, Team India had played 11 Tests in 2017 out of which they had managed to win seven, losing one against Australia and drawn three.
However, all these Tests have been in the sub-continent; eight have been played at home and three in Sri Lanka. Team India has been on a rampage in the Test format.
Now, let’s have a look at the teams who had scored most number of runs in an innings in Tests this year. Unsurprisingly, India holds the record for hitting the top five highest team totals in Tests in 2017.
603/9 d against Australia (Ranchi)
Next comes India’s score of 603/9 declared against the mighty Aussies in the third Test match in Ranchi.
Both the teams entered the match with the series level at 1-1. Australia batted first and scored 451, courtesy centuries by Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell.
India scored 603/9 in the first innings. Pujara scored his second double ton (202) to guide India to a mammoth total. Another centurion in the side was the wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha who scored 117.
Indian openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay scored 67 and 82, respectively. The match ended in a draw.
4. 610/6 d against Sri Lanka (Nagpur)
Then comes the most recent score of 610/6 declared against Sri Lanka in Nagpur.
After drawing the first Test, Sri Lanka batted first, and could only manage 205. India in their first innings had four centurions in the name of Murali Vijay, who scored 128, Cheteshwar Pujara (143) and Rohit Sharma (102).
However, the highlight of the innings was Virat Kohli who completed his fifth double century and scored a magnificent 213. India won the match by an innings and 239 runs.
3. 622/9 d against Sri Lanka (Colombo)
Having won the first Test against Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 304, India again looked to dominate the hosts in Colombo. Batting first, India scored 622/9 declared in the second game.
Cheteshwar Pujara was amongst the runs once again, as he scored 133 while Ajinkya Rahane hammered 132. Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha scored handy half-centuries down the order to take India to a daunting total.
India won the match by an innings and 53 runs and clinched the series.
2. 662/9d Against England (WACA, Perth)
The second spot goes to the Australian team which one the third Test at the WACA and also regained the Urn after winning the first three Tests and completely decimating the England side. Australia scored 662/9d as they batted just once in the Test beating England by an innings and 41 runs. Australian captain Steven Smith scored a brilliant 239 and led from the front. He was accompanied by all rounder Mitchell Marsh who was making a comeback to the side and scored his maiden Test hundred and scored 181 runs.
1. 687/7 d against Bangladesh (Hyderabad)
Members of Indian team pose with the winning trophy after their win over Bangladesh in their one-off cricket test match in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. India won the match by 208 runs. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)The score which tops the list is when Bangladesh came to India to play a Test for the first time in a one-off match in Hyderabad.
The Indian team was in no mood to be gracious to the first time visitors, as they hammered 687/7 declared. India captain Virat Kohli scored his fourth double century in fourth consecutive Test series, as he hit 204.
Murali Vijay also scored a century, scoring 108. Wriddhiman Saha scored 106 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 60* down the order took India to such a mountainous total.
India won the match by 208 runs.