Top 10 Biggest Winning Margin By Runs in Test Cricket (Updated 2025)

Biggest Winning Margin in Test Cricket by Runs

In Test cricket, Australia, England, and India are the three most powerful sides. The three sides have put up some amazing Test cricket action over the years. In this article today, we will take a look at the list of biggest wins in Test cricket by runs.

10. New Zealand won by 423 runs vs. Sri Lanka in 2018

The victory of New Zealand over Sri Lanka by 423 runs is ranked number 10 on the list. It was the second game in the two-match series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch in 2018, New Zealand scored only 178 runs in the first innings. Tim Southee was the top run scorer with 68 runs in an inning. Sri Lanka was dismissed for just 104 runs in response.

After that, New Zealand scored 585 runs in the second inning. Tom Latham scored 176 runs, while Henry Nicholls remained unbeaten with 162 runs. Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme scored their respective half-centuries.

Sri Lanka had the uphill task of chasing 660 runs. However, the Lankan Lions buckled under the pressure. Sri Lanka were dismissed for 236 runs, with Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal leading the way with 67 and 56 runs, respectively. New Zealand won by 423 runs, taking the series 1-0 after the first match ended in a draw.

9. The West Indies won by 425 runs vs. England in 1976

We head back to the 1970s when the West Indies team was a dominant force. They displayed their dominance against the England team in 1976 in the 3rd of the 5-match Test series.

The match was played at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, where the Caribbean team defeated the England team by 425 runs. The West Indies scored 211 runs in the 1st innings, with Gordon Greenidge scoring 134 runs while opening. England, though, were bowled out for 71 runs, with Michael Holding taking a 5-fer.

The West Indies then scored 411 runs in the 2nd inning, with Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards both scoring a century. Chasing a target of 552 runs, England were bowled out for 126 runs, with Andy Roberts bagging 6 wickets for the Caribbean side as West Indies won by 425 runs.

8. India won by 434 runs vs. England in 2024

The Indian cricket team’s 434-run victory in their match against England is currently one of the most recent biggest wins by runs in Test cricket. India hosted England for a five-match series at the beginning of 2024.

The 2nd Test match was played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The Indian team won this match by 434 runs. India's first innings total of 445 runs included hundreds from captain Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. England, in reply, scored 319 runs, with Ben Duckett leading the charge with 153 runs off 151 balls in an innings.

Team India later scored 430 runs, with left-hand opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a double-hundred, while Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan further contributed with 91 and 68 runs, respectively. The Indian bowlers displayed superb performance in the 4th inning as they bowled out the England team for 122 runs. With five wickets, Ravindra Jadeja spearheaded the attack as India won by 434 runs. They later won the series 4-1.

7. Sri Lanka won by 465 runs vs. Bangladesh in 2009

In January 2009, Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 465 runs. It was the second match of a tri-nation series that also involved Zimbabwe, played at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium in Chattogram.

Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 384 runs in the first inning. It was majorly thanks to a brilliant 162-run innings by Tillakaratne Dilshan, while Chamara Kapugedera missed out on his century by four runs. Bangladesh were meanwhile dismissed for 208 runs, with Ajanta Mendis and Muthiah Muralidaran leading with 4 and 3 wicket hauls, respectively.

Dilshan once again delivered a magnificent effort of 143 runs off 175 balls in the second innings, helping the Sri Lankan team score 447 runs and setting the hosts a target of 624 runs. However, the Bangla Tigers were bowled out for 158 runs, and it was Dilshan once again who played a major role with 4 wickets in 4 overs. The Sri Lankans won by 465 runs.

6. Australia won by 491 runs vs. Pakistan in 2004

We go back to 2004 for the next big victory in the lineup. It was in December 2004 when Australia beat Pakistan by 491 runs at the W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth.

It was the 1st match of the series, as Australia scored 381 runs in the 1st innings with a big inning from opener Justin Langer, who scored 191 runs off 280. The Aussies got the Pakistan team all out for 179 runs, with Michael Kasprowicz taking a 5-fer in the inning.

Australia then scored 361/5 in the second inning and declared the inning, setting a target of 564 runs for the visitors. However, courtesy of a magnificent bowling performance from veteran pacer Glenn McGrath, who took 8 wickets, Pakistan was all out for 72 runs, giving Australia a 491-run win in the series opener.

5. South Africa won by 492 runs vs. Australia in 2018

This time, it is South Africa that humiliated the Aussies in 2018. In a 4-match Test series, South Africa beat Australia by 492 runs in the 4th Test played at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

South Africa scored 488 runs in the first innings with a 152-run knock from Aiden Markram, while Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten on 95 runs. Australia scored 221 runs in reply to that. Both Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander picked 3 wickets each for the Proteas.

South Africa, meanwhile, scored 344 runs in the 2nd inning, with 120 runs coming from Faf du Plessis. Australia was depleted for 119 runs in pursuit of 612 runs as Vernon Philander bagged 6 wickets in the inning. South Africa emerged victorious by 492 runs.

4. Australia won by 530 runs vs. South Africa in 1911

Australia has a great history in this format. They have been a great dominant team in the format for a long time, as visible by their solid 530-run win over South Africa in 1911, played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia scored 328 runs in the first inning, with Warren Bardsley and Vernon Ransford leading the charge with 82 and 75 runs, respectively. South Africa, in reply, scored 205 runs, with Dave Nourse the top scorer for the Proteas with 92 unbeaten runs.

However, Australia added a further 578 runs with centuries from Warwick Armstrong and Clem Hill, while Ransford and Victor Trumper missed their individual landmarks as they scored 95 and 87 runs, respectively. Chasing a target of 702 runs, South Africa was bowled out for 171 runs as Australia won the match by 530 runs. Ranji Hordern picked 5 wickets for Australia in the 2nd inning.

3. Bangladesh won by 546 runs vs Afghanistan in 2023

One of the most recent biggest wins in Test cricket by runs belongs to Bangladesh. It was in 2023 when Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 546 runs in the match.

The hosts scored 382 runs while batting first. Najmul Hossain Shanto played a brilliant innings of 146 runs in the first inning. From there, the Bangla Tigers then bowled out the visitors for 146 runs, with Ebadot Hossain taking 4 wickets.

In the second innings, Bangladesh further added 425 runs, with centuries coming from both Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque, who remained unbeaten on 121 runs. Chasing a target of 662 runs, Afghanistan was bowled out for 115 runs, handing Bangladesh the victory by 546 runs.

2. Australia won by 562 runs vs. England in 1934

A couple of years later, Australia humiliated England. At the Kennington Oval in London, Australia beat England by 562 runs.

Batting first, Australia scored a gigantic 701 runs in the 1st innings, with double centuries coming from Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman. England in reply scored 321 runs with a century from Maurice Leyland.

Australia, however, scored a further 327 runs in the 2nd inning to set England a target of 708 runs. However, the hosts could only muster 145 runs, with Clarrie Grimmett bagging a 5-fer in the 2nd inning to help Australia pick up a 562-run win over the hosts.

1. England won by 675 runs vs. Australia in 1928

The biggest victory margin by runs in Test cricket dates back to almost 100 years. It was in December 1928 when England, the founders of the game, beat Australia by a massive margin of 675 runs.

It was the first of five matches at Brisbane's Exhibition Ground. Batting first, England scored 521 runs with a 169-run inning from Patsy Hendren. England then bowled out Australia for 122, with Harold Larwood bagging 6 wickets and Maurice Tate 3.

England then scored 342 runs in the 2nd inning. Phil Mead and Douglas Jardine both had half-centuries. Later, chasing a target of 742 runs, Australia was bowled out for 66 runs. Jack White took 4 wickets, with 2 wickets each for Harold Larwood and Maurice Tate, as England won the match by 675 runs.

Largest Win Margin in Test Cricket by an Innings

In Test cricket, there is another method of determining the winner of the match. The second method of victory is called winning by an inning. In this method, when one team fails to score more than what the other team scored in one inning, it is called winning by an inning in Test cricket. Below are some of the largest victory margins by an innings in Test cricket.

5. Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs vs. New Zealand

Pakistan was in top-notch form in and around the year 2002. And it was on full display in May 2002 when Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the first Test match by an innings and 324 runs.

The hosts scored 643 runs in the first inning with a triple century from Inzamam-ul-Haq, while Imran Nazir scored 127 runs. Pakistan displayed a great bowling performance as Shoaib Akhtar’s 6-wicket haul helped Pakistan to bowl out New Zealand for 73 runs. In the second innings, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs, having dismissed the opponents for 246, resulting in a commanding victory.

4. Australia beat England by an innings and 332 runs

Australia has also had a fair bit of dominance over England in their historic rivalry. At the Brisbane Cricket Ground in 1946, Australia won the Test match against England by an innings and 332 runs.

The Aussies scored 645 runs while batting first, with both Don Bradman and Lindsay Hassett completing their century, with Bradman’s 187-run knock as the top scorer. England were all out for 141 runs in pursuit of the total. When asked to follow on, England were all out for 172 runs as Australia won by an innings and 332 runs.

3. West Indies beat India by an innings and 336 in 1958

In the year 1958, West Indies humbled Team India at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In the 3rd of a 5-match Test series, West Indies registered a thumping victory by an innings and 336 runs vs. India.

The Caribbean side scored 614 runs while batting first. Three different batters scored a century, as Rohan Kanhai scored 256 runs, with Basil Butcher and Carry Sobers contributing with 103 and 106 runs, respectively.

West Indies won the match by an inning and 336 runs after Team India scored 124 runs in the first inning and was only able to score 154 runs when asked to continue. Vijay Manjrekar was the highest scorer with an undefeated 58 runs.

2. Australia won by an innings and 360 runs vs. South Africa in 2002

Australia dominated South Africa in the first Test match, which took place at Johannesburg's New Wanderers Stadium in 2002. It was an innings and 360-run victory for the Australians.

The Aussies scored 652 runs in the first inning, with Adam Gilchrist slamming a double-hundred as he remained unbeaten after scoring 204 runs. In addition, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn each scored 122 and 133 runs, respectively.

South Africa replied with 159 runs in the first innings. They were asked to follow on after that. But, there was barely any improvement from the Proteas side in the second inning as they were bowled out for 133 runs, giving Australia the win by an innings and 360 runs.

1. England won by an innings and 579 runs vs. Australia

England and Australia share one of the biggest rivalries in cricket. Both teams have played some amazing matches in their history of over 200 years. In 1938, England registered a big win by an innings and 579 runs vs. Australia to assert their dominance.

Batting first, England scored a mammoth 902 runs, with Leonard Hutton the top scorer with 364 runs, while Maurice Leyland scored 187 runs. Australia, in reply, were all out for 201 runs, with Bill Bowes taking a 5-fer. Australia were asked to follow on and this time were all out for 123 runs with Ken Farnes’ 4-fer as England registered a victory by an innings and 579 runs.