Joe Root and Harry Brook set the highest-ever partnership for England in Test cricket history

NEW DELHI: England cricketers Joe Root and Harry Brook have made history in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Thursday.

Root and Brook teamed up for a monumental 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This is the highest-ever stand for England in Test cricket. Additionally, it is the fourth-highest partnership in the history of Test cricket.

The duo's record-breaking partnership outdid the previous highest stand against Pakistan. The prior record was set by West Indies legends Conrad Hunte and Garry Sobers. They had a 446-run stand in Kingston back in 1958.

Highest partnerships in Test cricket history

• 624 - M Jayawardene & K Sangakkara (SL) vs SA, Colombo, 2006
• 576 - S Jayasuriya & R Mahanama (SL) vs IND, Colombo, 1997
• 467 - Martin Crowe, Andrew Jones (NZ) vs SL, Wellington, 1999
• 454 - Joe Root & Harry Brook (ENG) vs PAK, Multan, 2024*

Both players achieved significant career milestones during this innings. Joe Root scored a career-best 262 off 375 balls. His innings included 17 boundaries. Harry Brook, on the other hand, reached his maiden triple century. He joined an elite group as only the sixth England batter to score a triple century in Test cricket. Brook's 317 came off just 322 balls. His innings boasted three sixes and 29 boundaries.

Brook's triple century came in double quick time. He reached the milestone in just 310 balls, making it the second fastest in Test cricket history. The fastest triple century record belongs to Virender Sehwag, who scored a triple ton off 278 balls against South Africa in 2008.

Highest partnership against Pakistan in Test cricket

• 454 - Joe Root & Harry Brook (ENG), Multan, 2024*
• 446 - Conrad Hunte, Garry Sobers (WI), Kingston, 1958
• 437 - M Jayawardene & T Samaraweera (SL), Karachi, 2009
• 410 - Rahul Dravid & Virender Sehwag (IND), Lahore

Root and Brook are now only the third pair in Test cricket history to score 250-plus runs each in the same innings. Earlier instances of this rare achievement include Conrad Hunte (260) and Garry Sobers (365) for West Indies against Pakistan in 1958. Another instance was Mahela Jayawardene (374) and Kumar Sangakkara (287) for Sri Lanka against South Africa in 2006.

Two batters scoring 250-plus in same Test innings

• Conrad Hunte (260) & Garry Sobers (365) vs PAK, 1958
• M Jayawardene (374) & K Sangakkara (287) vs SA, 2006
• Joe Root (262) & Harry Brook (261*) vs PAK, 2024*

Root's and Brook's efforts not only set new records for England but also took their place among the great partnerships in Test cricket history. Their brilliant performances took England to a mammoth 823 for 7 declared in their first innings in reply to Pakistan’s 556.