PAK vs ENG: Joe Root and Harry Brook Set Highest Partnership Record for England in Test Cricket

On day four of the Test match in Multan, Joe Root and Harry Brook delivered an astonishing performance that not only propelled England towards a formidable score but also etched their names in cricket history. 

A Record-Breaking Partnership

As day four unfolded, Root and Brook continued where they left off, with their fourth-wicket partnership quickly moving beyond 300 runs. Root, who had narrowly escaped being dismissed earlier in the day, reached his double-century in style. Brook, too, celebrated a personal triumph by scoring his maiden Test double century before the lunch break.

Their partnership shattered records, including Root’s new status as England’s highest Test run-scorer and the highest score ever achieved by a visiting player in Pakistan. The duo’s extraordinary stand eventually surpassed the previous English record of 411 runs for the fourth wicket, established by Colin Cowdrey and Peter May back in 1957. By the time their partnership came to an end, they had accumulated an astonishing 454 runs off 525 balls.

Here are some of England’s highest partnerships in Test cricket:

1. Harry Brook & Joe Root – 454 runs against Pakistan (4th wicket, Multan, 2024)
2. Colin Cowdrey & Peter May – 411 runs against West Indies (4th wicket, Edgbaston, 1957)
3. Jonny Bairstow & Ben Stokes – 399 runs against South Africa (6th wicket, Newlands, 2016)
4. Len Hutton & Maurice Leyland – 382 runs against Australia (2nd wicket, The Oval, 1938)
5. Denis Compton & Bill Edrich – 370 runs against South Africa (3rd wicket, Lord’s, 1947)
6. Ken Barrington & John Edrich – 369 runs against New Zealand (2nd wicket, Headingley, 1965)
7. Len Hutton & Cyril Washbrook – 359 runs against South Africa (1st wicket, Ellis Park, 1948)
8. Jos Buttler & Zak Crawley – 359 runs against Pakistan (5th wicket, Southampton, 2020)
9. Graham Gooch & David Gower – 351 runs against Australia (2nd wicket, The Oval, 1985)
10. Ian Bell & Kevin Pietersen – 350 runs against India (3rd wicket, The Oval, 2011)

England declared the innings at 823/7 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 556.