Top 5 highest successful run chases by England in Test cricket
England have a long history in test cricket, along with Australia, were part of the inaugural official test match back in 1877 at the MCG. The English team has always been fortunate to have a potent batting lineup that excels at home but frequently struggles away from home.
Over the years, England have chased some big totals in Test cricket. Successful fourth-inning run chases are the hardest in test matches because last-inning batting in Test cricket is the most difficult.
In this article, let’s delve into the top five highest successful chases by England in the longest format.
5. 307/6 vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 1997

England recorded its fifth-highest successful run chase in February 1997 against New Zealand in Christchurch. New Zealand scored 346 runs and dismissed England for 228 to take an early lead of 118 runs.
New Zealand were all out for 186 in their second innings, setting England a target of 305 runs. Captain Mike Atherton took command of the chase and hit a spectacular 118 at the top.
At one point they were 231/6 when John Crawley (40*) and Dominic Cork (39*) added unbeaten 76 runs for the seventh wicket to take England home.
4. 315/4 vs Australia, Leeds, 2001

England’s fourth-highest chase in test cricket occurred in Leeds in 2001 against Australia. Australia had a 138-run lead after both sides' first innings as they dismissed England for 309 after scoring 447. Australia set a target of 315 runs for England after declaring their second innings at 176/4.
Mark Butcher's counter attacking innings gave England a boost in return. He scored his highest Test score of 173* off 227 balls and took the English team to 315/5 to register a memorable victory against the bowling unit that had Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie.
3. 332/7 vs Australia, Melbourne, 1928

The first time that England chased down a 300+ total was in 1928 against Australia at the MCG. England came back strongly with 417 runs to take a 20-run lead in the first inning against Australia's 397 runs.
Australia then set a target of 332 runs after scoring 351 runs in their second innings. England's chase commenced with an opening stand of 101 runs. Then they had three 50-plus stands. Opener Herbert Sutcliffe slammed 135 runs, and England scored 332/7 in 159.5 overs to win the test.
2. 362/9 vs Australia, Leeds, 2019

England’s second-highest successful run chase in the longest format came in 2019 at Leeds against Australia. It was one of the closest and memorable Test matches.
England had a terrible collapse in the first innings and they were all out for 67 runs in reply to Australia’s 179. Australia set a target of 359 runs for England after scoring 246 runs in the second innings. Before this game, England had never chased a 350+ target, so they needed something exceptional, which Ben Stokes delivered. The southpaw slammed one of the best fourth-inning centuries in history.
At one point, England were 286/9 with 73 more runs to win. Together with No. 11 Jack Leach (1* off 17), Stokes added those runs and finished with a score of 135 not out, leading England to one of the greatest victories in history.
1. 378/3 vs India, Birmingham, 2022

In Birmingham, during the fifth test of the 2021–22 series against India, England's Bazball tactics were on full display for the world to see. After England was all out for 284 in response to India's 416, they gave up a lead of 132 runs in the first inning.
In the second innings, India were bowled out for 245 and England got a target of 378. The English openers, chasing the target, got things started with a 107-run partnership in 21.4 overs. Zak Crawley scored 46 and Alex Lees made 56.
However, from 107/0, England were reduced to 109/3. But after that, England achieved their highest-ever successful run chase in Test cricket thanks to an unbeaten partnership of 269 runs for the fourth wicket between Jonny Bairstow (114*) and Joe Root (142).
Cover Credits - ICC Official
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