Most runs scored in a completed day of Test

England broke record books when they scored 506 on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on December 1. England broke a century-old record to score the biggest total on Day 1 in Test cricket history and also became the first team to score 500-plus runs on Day 1. However, England’s latest 506 total is the fifth-highest score in a single day of the Test. But England are now involved in four of top five scores in a single day of Test in history. So, let’s take a look at the top three scored in a completed day of Test cricket history.

3. 509 runs (Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2002)

Resuming from 32/0 on Day 1, Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 541/9 against Bangladesh on Day 2 in the first Test match in Colombo in 2022. They scored 509 runs in a single day, and also became the first team to score 500-plus total on any day of a Test match in history. Aravinda de Silva scored 206 runs off 234 balls and captain Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 145 runs off 164 balls. Sri Lanka won the match by innings and 196 runs as legendary spinner Muthiah Muralitharan took five wickets in each innings.

2. 522 runs (England vs South Africa, 1924)

England 531/2 runs during their first innings against South Africa in the second Test at Lord’s in 1924. During that 531 total, England scored 503 runs on Day 2 and the Proteas added 19 more runs to create a world record for most runs in a single day. English openers Jack Hobbs smashed 211 runs on Day 2 and England won the match by an innings and 18 runs.

1. 588 runs (England vs India, in 1936)

On India’s tour of England, both teams scored a mammoth total of 588 runs on Day 2 of the second Test match in Manchester on July 25, 1936. Resuming from 173/2 on Day 2, England declared their innings on 571/8, and then the Indian team added 190 runs more on the same day to put a day’s score at 588. The match resulted in a draw as Indian batters stood firm with 390/5 total in their second innings).