On August 6, 1997 at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka declared at 952 for 6 — the highest team total in Test history. Sanath Jayasuriya made 340; Roshan Mahanama 225. Their second-wicket partnership of 576 was a then-Test world record. The Test was drawn.
Sri Lanka were World Cup champions and at the height of their batting confidence. The R Premadasa Stadium pitch had a reputation as the flattest in the country. India's attack was led by Anil Kumble, with Venkatesh Prasad and Abey Kuruvilla as seamers.
India had batted first and made 537 for 8 declared (Sachin Tendulkar 143, Mohammad Azharuddin 126). Sri Lanka, who had begun their second Test innings just one Test after the 1996 World Cup triumph, ran riot. Sanath Jayasuriya — coming off the World Cup tournament — opened with Marvan Atapattu (26). After Atapattu fell at 39, Roshan Mahanama joined Jayasuriya. They batted for the rest of day two, all of day three, all of day four and into day five. The partnership ended at 576 for the second wicket — at the time the largest partnership in Test history. Jayasuriya was finally caught off Anil Kumble for 340 (78 fours, two sixes, 799 minutes). Mahanama 225 not out (after retiring hurt). Sri Lanka declared 952 for 6 — the highest team total ever. India 397 for 1 in their second innings; the match was drawn.
Atapattu out for 26 — Mahanama in
Jayasuriya passes 200 (his maiden Test double-hundred)
Partnership passes 451 (previous Test record by Mudassar Nazar/Javed Miandad)
Mahanama retires hurt with cramps but returns
Jayasuriya out for 340 — partnership 576
Mahanama 225*; Sri Lanka declare 952/6
August 2, 1997
India bat first, 537/8 declared (Tendulkar 143).
August 4-6
Sri Lanka 952/6d; Jayasuriya 340, Mahanama 225*.
August 6
India 397/1 in 2nd innings; Test drawn.
“I just kept batting. The pitch was completely dead.”
“We bowled 271 overs and they made 952. That tells you everything about that pitch.”
India saved the draw with 397/1 (Tendulkar 51, Sidhu 131*). The Test was a flat batting marathon throughout. Jayasuriya's 340 was the highest individual Test score by a left-hander at that time. The 576-run partnership stood until 2006 when Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara made 624 against South Africa.
The largest team total in Test cricket and one of the great batting feats. The partnership of 576 stood for nine years.
952/6 remains the highest Test team total in cricket history nearly three decades later. Jayasuriya's 340 is among the highest individual Test scores ever. The partnership of 576 was eventually broken by Sangakkara and Jayawardene — also for Sri Lanka.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.