5 Highest Test scores in the last year

With the rapid advent of T20 cricket, it is often argued that modern day batsmen have lost the composure and temperament to spend long times at the crease and make substantial scores.

Is that true? We look at the five highest individual scores in the past 12 months (starting August 2015) to answer this question. All these 5 scores are over 250, but most were scored at a brisk pace.

Perhaps, that is the real effect of T20s on Tests – giving a new dimension to batting rather than stripping batsmen of an older effective manner. Take a look at this list, featuring 3 England cricketers, 1 Australian and 1 New Zealander and surprisingly no Asians.

1. Ross Taylor – 290 v Australia:

In Mitchell Johnson’s final Test match for Australia at Perth, in November 2015, Ross Taylor played a stunning innings under pressure. Trailing Australia by 559 runs, Taylor batted close to 5 sessions on the way to a scintillating 290.

This boundary studded innings was the epitome of aggression as a best form of defence, as Taylor made his runs in just 374 balls, seeing out a destructive Mitchell Starc spell in which he clocked 160.4 kmph. Not only was it Taylor’s highest first-class score, it was also the highest score by a visiting batsman in Australia ever.

This marathon innings saw New Zealand draw the Test match from an improbable position and helped Taylor reestablish himself as a permanent member of the New Zealand middle order, after doubts surrounding his previous performances.

Also read – Top 10 Batsmen with highest strike rate in an innings with minimum 50 balls faced in Tests