Highest Score in Women's Test Cricket – Unbreakable Records & Historic Performances

Unbreakable Records: The Highest Score in Women's Test Cricket History

When people talk about Test cricket, it’s usually a conversation about Bradman, Cook, or Tendulkar. But what about the women who’ve toiled in whites for days, under the sun, batting long and hard for every run? Women’s Test cricket is a ghost in the modern cricket world—present, yet so often overlooked. There are fewer matches, even fewer series, and most fans can’t name a single women's Test innings. That’s the tragedy and the beauty of it.

This format, for women, isn’t played often. But when it is, it delivers. Long innings. Timeless partnerships. Real grit. The highest score in women’s Test cricket isn’t just a stat—it’s a story of defiance, patience, and unmatched skill. And unlike in limited-overs formats, these achievements aren’t about slogging. They’re about lasting. Surviving. Dominating the old-fashioned way. It’s the same spirit you catch glimpses of in domestic battles like Dindigul Dragons vs Nellai Royal Kings—where endurance and heart matter just as much as flair.

The rarity of the format adds weight to every run. Fewer matches mean fewer opportunities. So when a player puts up a monumental score, it stands for decades. It’s not just about one day’s brilliance—it’s about mastering conditions, opponents, and the art of survival. That’s why the highest score in women’s Test cricket matters. It’s one of the toughest achievements in the sport.

The Crown Jewel: The Highest Individual Score in Women’s Test Cricket

No one forgets 1996. Not if they followed cricket closely. In that year, Kiran Baluch of Pakistan etched her name in the history books with an innings that no one has been able to match since. Facing the West Indies in Karachi, Baluch crafted a stunning 242 runs, the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket to this day.

She wasn’t a household name. In fact, before that match, even die-hard fans might’ve struggled to place her. But once she walked out to bat, the game shifted. She faced 488 balls, hitting 29 boundaries, and carried Pakistan through a first innings total of 426. It wasn’t just the volume of runs—it was how she scored them. Patient, measured, relentless. No rash strokes. No shortcuts.

The context makes it even more impressive. Pakistan’s women’s team was still finding its footing in the global game. The infrastructure was basic. Support was minimal. But Baluch stood tall, and her innings lasted over 10 hours. It was an innings of character and calm. The West Indies bowlers tried everything. Nothing worked.

“That innings was more than just runs—it was a revolution in whites.” – Clare Connor, former England captain

Today, almost 30 years later, the record still stands. Many have come close, but none have touched it. Her 242 wasn’t just a personal best. It was a beacon for a generation of cricketers who finally saw what was possible.

Highest Individual Test Scores in Women’s Cricket History

The record books in women’s cricket aren’t as crowded as the men’s, but when it comes to sheer class and resolve, these innings belong at the top of the sport. Here are the top 10 highest scores ever recorded in women's Test cricket—each one a tale of resilience and cricketing brilliance.

Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in Women's Test Cricket

Among these milestones, the highest score in Test women's cricket by any player remains unmatched even today—proof that sometimes, one innings can outlast generations.

Team Titans: Highest Team Scores in Women’s Test Cricket

When it comes to dominance over five days, only a few teams know how to grind out an opponent. Australia and England, with their deep cricketing roots, top the charts here. The highest score in women’s Test cricket by team isn’t just about one great batter—it’s about a squad moving as one, building pressure, and batting deep into the innings.

Top 5 Highest Team Scores in Women’s Test Cricket

1. Australia – 569/6d vs England – 1998
   

2. England – 551/7d vs Australia – 1935
   

3. New Zealand – 517/8d vs England – 1996
   

4. India – 467 vs South Africa – 2002
   

5. Australia – 463/10 vs India – 1984
   

Australia’s 569 in Perth, back in ‘98, came on a flat track with several half-centuries and a century from the middle order. They batted close to two days, building a fortress of runs. England’s 1935 total still impresses, considering it came in the early days of women’s cricket—when facilities were rudimentary and the game barely had an audience.

The highest score in women’s Test cricket by team often reflects long-form dominance, especially by Australia and England, both of whom have historically invested more in red-ball cricket.

Greatest Partnerships That Built the Records

Cricket isn’t just about individual brilliance. Some of the most iconic innings in women’s Tests were built on the back of gritty, unbroken stands. Partnerships that turned the tide, wore down bowling attacks, and set up historic scores.

Top 5 Partnerships in Women's Test Cricket

1. Kirsty Flavell & Debbie Hockley – 285 vs England, 1996
   

2. Ellyse Perry & Alyssa Healy – 213* vs England, 2017
   

3. Mithali Raj & Jhulan Goswami – 157 vs England, 2002
   

4. Karen Rolton & Lisa Keightley – 190* vs England, 2001
   

5. Sandhya Agarwal & Shubhangi Kulkarni – 170 vs England, 1986
   

That Flavell-Hockley stand was textbook. Compact defense, sharp running, and sharp shot selection. They dragged the game from even to theirs. The Perry-Healy partnership, on the other hand, was power with poise. Every session, they kept scoring, never letting the bowlers settle.

These partnerships don’t just pad stats—they shift the game. Behind every highest score in Test women’s cricket, there’s almost always a solid partnership that made it possible.

Behind the Numbers: The Rarity and Value of Women's Test Centuries

Centuries in women's Tests aren't just special—they're near sacred. Unlike the men's circuit where a Test hundred is expected almost every match, in women's cricket, it’s a rarity. And a double hundred? That’s like spotting a comet. These aren’t flukes—they’re born out of stubbornness, supreme technique, and often, a chance players might only get once every few years.

Let’s be blunt: women don’t get many red-ball games. Some players go through their careers with fewer than five Test caps. No time to settle. No second chances. There’s no regular multi-day domestic system either, so when a player walks out in a Test match, she’s basically learning on the job. That makes every big knock feel like a mini-miracle.

Compare that to white-ball cricket. ODIs and T20s are played constantly, and the rhythm is familiar. You’ve got 50 overs or 20 overs—you swing, rotate, and move on. But in Tests? You dig deep. And in the women’s game, that trench runs deep. The highest score in women's Test cricket carries weight because it’s forged under such conditions—no rhythm, no routine, just one shot at making history.

This is part of why players like Kiran Baluch, Mithali Raj, and Ellyse Perry stand tall. They not only delivered under pressure—they did it in a format they barely got to play. In women’s cricket, every century is rare. Every double? A landmark.

Here’s a quick look at how rare women’s Test centuries are, compared to white-ball formats:

Frequency of Centuries Across Formats (All-Time)

• Women’s Tests: Around 100 centuries in total since 1934
  

• Women’s ODIs: Over 200 individual tons
  

• Women’s T20Is: 20+ and counting
  

These numbers say it all. The highest score in women's Test cricket isn’t just impressive—it’s almost unrepeatable in today’s calendar.

Legacy & Impact: The Cultural Shift Around Record Scores

For decades, women’s Test cricket was treated like an afterthought—dusty, slow, and tucked away. But every time a player pushed past 150, 200, or beyond, she chipped away at that silence. These big scores, quietly and steadily, began changing how people viewed the format.

Kiran Baluch’s 242 wasn’t broadcast globally. There was no highlight reel on loop. But within cricketing circles, it rang loud. Suddenly, Pakistan had a record-holder. And not just any record—the biggest one. Young girls in Karachi had a new role model, not in some glossy ad, but on the pitch, facing 400+ balls with grit.

In India, Mithali Raj’s 214 put women’s cricket on the map—before her T20 heroics, before the captaincy stardom. That knock in Taunton, against England, showed that Indian women could not just compete—they could dominate. Raj herself has spoken about how she still holds red-ball cricket closest to her heart.

Today’s stars, like Ellyse Perry, talk openly about wanting more Test matches. “That double hundred at North Sydney Oval,” she said in a post-match, “was one of the most fulfilling moments of my career. You bat long, you get in that zone… it’s different. Special.”

There’s also been a ripple effect in coverage. Whenever someone nears a triple-digit score in a women’s Test now, social media lights up. Fans, journalists, even players in other formats take note. The highest score in Test women's cricket has gone from a trivia point to a badge of honour.

Records that Redefined Women’s Test Cricket

These aren’t just records. They’re statements. When Kiran Baluch made her 242, she carved out a place in history with a bat, not a microphone. When Perry went unbeaten on 213*, she brought thousands to a stadium. When Mithali batted for hours in England, she forced the cricketing world to sit up and take notice.

These scores aren’t forgotten because they were flashy—they’re remembered because they were built on patience, bravery, and a bit of madness. And let’s be honest—these are records that might never be broken. Not unless the format sees a revival. Right now, women’s Test cricket isn’t just rare—it’s endangered.

But let’s not write it off. The players want it. The fans want it. And with nations like India, Australia, and England dipping their toes back into the five-day waters, maybe—just maybe—we’ll see a youngster crack the code.

So who’s next? Shafali Verma has the power. Phoebe Litchfield has the timing. Maybe someone we haven’t even heard of yet. But the next name to top the list? She’ll have earned every single run.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who holds the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket?
Kiran Baluch of Pakistan holds the record with a majestic 242 runs against the West Indies in 2004.

2. Which team has the highest score in women's Test cricket?
Australia, with a dominant 569/6 declared against England in 1998.

3. Are women’s Test matches still played regularly?
No. Women’s Tests are rare. Most countries focus on ODIs and T20s, and only a few nations still schedule red-ball games.

4. What is the highest Test score in women’s cricket in the modern era?
Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 213 against England in 2017 is the highest individual score in recent times.

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