England achieved a historic feat at Headingley on Tuesday by chasing down a target of 371 runs to defeat India by five wickets, completing the tenth-highest successful fourth-innings chase in the 148-year history of Test cricket.
This Headingley Test also entered the record books for another reason: It became only the third Test in history to feature totals of over 350 runs in all four innings.
The only other Tests to achieve this rare statistical mark were the 1921 Ashes Test at Adelaide and the famous 1948 Ashes Test also held at Headingley.
With this win, England joined an elite list of teams that have completed massive run chases in the fourth innings.
Some notable examples from that list include:
418 – West Indies v Australia, St John’s, 2003
The highest successful chase ever recorded remains the West Indies’ pursuit of 418 against Australia in St John’s in 2003.
That game saw centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and a key partnership between Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes.
414 – South Africa v Australia, Perth, 2008
Other notable fourth-innings chases include South Africa’s 414 against Australia at Perth in 2008, with captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers guiding the visitors to a six-wicket win.
In 1948, Australia chased 404 against England, led by a powerful 182 from Arthur Morris and a legendary unbeaten 173 from Don Bradman, securing a seven-wicket triumph.
403 – India v West Indies, Port-of-Spain, 1976
India’s own record fourth-innings chase came in 1976, when they chased 403 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain, thanks to centuries by Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath.
That match had a long-lasting impact, as West Indies captain Clive Lloyd abandoned spin bowling and built a four-pronged pace attack that came to dominate world cricket.
395 – West Indies v Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2021
In 2021, West Indies chased 395 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, including a sensational 210 not out from debutant Kyle Mayers and putting putting on 216 with fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner (86) to see the visitors to a three-wicket win.
388 – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Colombo, 2017
In 2017, Sri Lanka completed a chase of 388 against Zimbabwe in Colombo, with Asela Gunaratne remaining unbeaten on 80.
387 – India v England, Chennai, 2008
Another iconic match came in 2008, when India chased 387 against England in Chennai. Virender Sehwag gave India a fast start with 83, before Sachin Tendulkar (103*) and Yuvraj Singh (85*) sealed the win.
378 – England v India, Edgbaston, 2022
England themselves had a similar achievement in 2022, chasing 378 against India at Edgbaston, with Root and Jonny Bairstow both scoring centuries.
377 – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Pallekelle, 2015
In the 2015 Pallekelle Test, Pakistan chased 377 against Sri Lanka, with crucial centuries by Younis Khan and Shan Masood, and a match-winning 59 from Misbah-ul-Haq.
371 – England v India, Headingley 2025
The historical chase was led by opener Ben Duckett, whose remarkable innings of 149 runs provided the foundation for a dramatic win, later finished off by Joe Root and Jamie Smith.
India had earlier posted 471 runs in their first innings after England captain Ben Stokes chose to bowl first. In response, England came close with a total just six runs short, keeping the game tight.
The hosts then dismissed India for 364 in their second innings, setting themselves a highly challenging target of 371.
Despite the pressure of a fourth-innings total and Rishab Pant’s centuries in both innings, England played the chase smartly, with Duckett’s century turning the tables, and Root and Smith sending them home in the final session.
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