Top 5 highest partnerships vs Pakistan in Test history ft. Harry Brook & Joe Root
England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root stitched a sensational partnership to tire out the Pakistan bowlers on a flat Multan pitch in the ongoing first Test. Earlier, Pakistan also dominated the England bowling unit on a surface which has nothing in for the bowlers.
As a result, the pitch has received flak from the cricket fraternity and fans for being too favorable for the batters. Well, the ground also served host to Virender Sehwag's triple century against Pakistan in April 2004.
There also have been many instances where the Pakistan bowlers haven't responded well to the opposition's challenge and conceded a truckload of runs. On that note, let's take a look at the five highest Test partnerships against Pakistan, with a majority of them coming on their home soil.
#5 Kane Williamson & Henry Nicholls - 369, Christchurch, 2021
In this Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Christchurch, batting first, the visitors were bundled out for 297. Thereafter, the Kiwi side were at 71/3, when Henry Nicholls joined forces with Kane Williamson.
In overcast conditions, the pair were terrific to steer the team with their positive intent. The confident display helped them add 369 runs together, before Nicholls was dismissed on 157. Williamson went on to score 238 as New Zealand declared on 659/6.
Thereafter, Pakistan were all-out for 186, as Kyle Jamieson picked six wickets and New Zealand won by an innings and 176 runs.
#4 Virender Sehwag & Rahul Dravid - 410, Lahore, 2006
In this Test between India and Pakistan at Lahore in January 2006, the latter batted first. Younis Khan (199) and Mohammad Yousuf (173) set the platform, while Shahid Afridi (103) and Kamran Akmal (102*) continued the momentum for the hosts. As a result, they declared for a staggering total of 679/7.
In response, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid looked flawless in their batting display, as Pakistan bowlers had no answers. The duo went to stitch a 410-run stand, with Sehwag scoring 254 off 247, while Dravid hitting 128* off 233. The game ultimately ended in a draw.
Interestingly, the duo fell just three short of breaking the record for the highest-ever opening Test partnership of 413 at that time.
#3 Thilan Samaraweera & Mahela Jayawardene - 437, Karachi, 2009
The first bilateral Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2009 took place in Karachi. The visitors chose to bat first and lost their opening batter, Tharanga Paranavitana in the first over. However, the knocks of Malinda Warnapura (59) and Kumar Sangakkara (70) put the team in good stead.
Then, skipper Mahela Jayawardene (240) and Thilan Samaraweera (231) were impressive with their strokeplay to stitch a 437-run stand and help the team declare on 644/7.
Then, Younis Khan came up with a sensational knock to power Pakistan as they declared on 765/6. The game ended in draw, with Sri Lanka at 144/5 in the second innings.
#2 Conrad Hunte & Gary Sobers - 446, Kingston, 1958
Back in 1958, the West Indies clashed against Pakistan in Kingston. The touring side batted first and were bundled out for 328. Although Pakistan secured a breakthrough of opener Rohan Kanhai, the Caribbean team bounced back with one of the finest batting performances.
The pair of Conrad Hunte and Gary Sobers toiled the opposition bowlers with their patience and skills. They stitched a 446-run stand before Hunte was unfortunately run out for 260. Sobers went on to remain unbeaten on 365, as West Indies declared on 790/3.
Then, Pakistan were all-out for 288, as West Indies won by an innings and 174 runs.
#1 Joe Root & Harry Brook - 454, Multan, 2024
In the ongoing Test at Multan, England needed a big partnership in response to Pakistan's strong total of 556. After getting a push from Zak Crawley (78) and Ben Duckett (84), the visitors built momentum on a flat pitch.
The pair of veteran batter Joe Root and youngster Harry Brook piled misery on the Pakistan bowlers as they held a run rate of more than five runs per over.
On Thursday (October 10), they created history by registering England's highest-ever Test partnership of 454 runs. Brook went on to slam 317 off 322, while Root garnered 262 off 375, as England declared for a mammoth total of 823/7.