Top 5 Highest Opening Partnerships in Test Cricket History, Including McKenzie-Smith and Sehwag-Dravid by Kheloexch

Big opening stands are one of the grand acts of cricket. They set the tone for the match, pretty much wearing down the opposition bowlers while making the foundation for a very big yet strong total by the batting team. Big stands have been assembled by some pairs in the long history of test cricket, rewriting record books in the process.

Some star-points regarding the biggest opening stands:

-The highest opening partnership in Test cricket is 415 runs, created by Neil McKenzie with Graeme Smith for South Africa.

-India has the second- and third-highest opening stands.

-The Sehwag-Rahul partnership almost obliterated the world record.In these gigantic partnerships, both openers generally score double centuries.

Rankings Of The Highest Opening Partnerships In Test Cricket

Test cricket has always witnessed some extraordinary batting performances. Big partnerships are really what win matches. An opening stand with big runs can break the psyche of the other team. 

Here is a list of the top five highest opening partnerships of all times.

Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson: 382-Run Opening Partnership in Test Cricket (1965)

Who else but Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson holding 382-run opening partnership record in the year of 1965 played the match in Bridgetown and rewritten the pages of Test cricket history! The two opening batsmen from Australia scored very crucial first-wicket partnership centuries as they opened against the West Indies, added 382 runs and surpassing oppositions trying to win it. They were even able to score double centuries in that innings.

Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis: New Zealand’s 387-Run Opening Stand vs West Indies (1972)

In 1972, the New Zealand opening batting duo of Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis set the national record for an opening stand against the West Indies at Georgetown with a partnership of 387 runs. Turner went on to score 259 and Jarvis was out for 182. Following the huge stand matched with good batting from both sides, the match ended in a draw.

The Incredible Openers: Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid - Near World Record 410 Runs Opening Partnership vs Pakistan (2006)

In 2006, the Indian opening batsmen, Virender Sehwag & Rahul Dravid were edging towards a world record. Sehwag, the runway batsman, scored 254 runs in 247 balls.Dravid(the wall), cool as ever, remained not out on 128. 

They came within three runs of the then highest opening partnership in Test cricket. The match received a heavy dose of weather, so it was drawn, but the partnership goes down in history as one of the finest. For die-hard followers of such moments, platforms like Kheloexch enable them to connect with history.

Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy: Incredible 413-Run Opening Partnership Against New Zealand (1956)

So for 50 plus years people, this record set by them is one of highest opening partnership in Test cricket. This was held by Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy of India. This record was achieved in Chennai, india, in 1956 when they amassed 413 runs against New Zealand with Mankad scoring a masterful 231 and Roy made 173, wow!

Their huge stand saw India win convincingly by an innings and 109 runs. This was to be the highest opening partnership for over five decades, keeping itself intact in the annals of time; a testimony to their skills and endurance.

Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith: The Highest Opening Partnership in Test Cricket with 415 Runs vs Bangladesh (2008)

This is the record for highest opening partnership in Test cricket, set by South Africa's Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith. In 2008, they fashioned an unbeatable 415-run partnership against Bangladesh in Chattogram. 

Both the openers managed to score double centuries; Smith toppled them by scoring 232, while McKenzie was not far behind, with 226. The two nearly spent two days battering the Bangladesh bowlers with resistance.

That fantastic performance, revered among cricket fans on platforms such as Kheloexch360, led South Africa to an overwhelming victory by an innings and 205 runs. This record-setting stand still remains the yardstick for all Test cricket opening pairs.

Conclusion

These five partnerships demonstrate the greatest opening pairs in Test cricket. They were days of intense concentration, high skill, and teamwork that these partnerships are a testimony to. From the highest of 415 by McKenzie and Smith to almost illegal 410 of Sehwag and Dravid, every partnership tells its story.

These huge stands exhausted the bowlers and delivered wins almost from the jaws of defeat or saved matches when they were almost certain losses. 

To even reach the top-five list is a great feat in itself and a real stage of greatness in the longest format of the game. These records symbolize fortitude and class and will be looked down upon by Test cricket fans and followers for many ages to come.