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The Longest Innings in the History of Test Cricket

by March 05, 2026 0
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In Test cricket, where matches can last up to 5 days, endurance and concentration are as important as skill. Over the game’s long history, a handful of batsmen have produced extraordinary marathon innings that stand as benchmarks for mental and physical resilience. You may also want to try a 1xBet online game before the next big Test match begins.

The longest individual innings by time belongs to Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad. He batted for an astonishing 16 hours and 10 minutes while scoring 337 against the West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958. His effort, spread across multiple days, saved Pakistan from defeat and remains the gold standard for time spent at the crease in a single Test innings. Guinness World Records and cricket statisticians continue to list this as the longest Test innings by duration. Once a long innings is finished, you are also invited to continue having fun with an online game from the 1xBet platform.

When measured by balls faced, the record is held by England’s Leonard Hutton. In the 1938 Ashes Test at The Oval, Hutton scored 364 against Australia, facing 847 deliveries. At the time, it was also the highest individual Test score and remains the longest innings in terms of balls faced. Hutton’s feat is frequently cited as one of the greatest examples of patience and technical discipline in cricket history.

Other Epic Moments of This Variation of the Sport

Several other epic innings feature prominently in the all-time lists. The 1xBet Pakistan website is the best platform when it comes to betting on all cricket formats, too.

Other great moments include:

  • when New Zealand’s Glenn Turner faced 759 balls for his 259 against the West Indies in 1972.
  • Another memorable innings was when Australia’s Bob Simpson occupied the crease for 743 balls when scoring 311 against England in 1964.
  • South Africa’s Gary Kirsten is also notable: his 275 against England in Durban in 1999 lasted 14 hours and 38 minutes and involved 642 balls. This places him among the longest by both time and deliveries.

Modern cricket, with faster scoring rates and more aggressive styles, has made such ultra-long innings rarer. However, these historic marathons continue to be celebrated as defining achievements of Test cricket. They highlight the unique demands of the format and the extraordinary concentration required to bat for hours, and sometimes days, on end. You are also invited to visit the Pakistan 1xBet platform to bet on other occurrences that can take place during long innings of a cricket match too.