The greatest combined score in a single day in Test history was achieved by England and India on Day 2 of a 1936 match, with England scoring 398/6 and India scoring 190 for no loss.
It is often acknowledged that scoring runs in Tests, the oldest and most difficult type of cricket, is more difficult than in any other format, including T20 or One-Day matches.
Red-ball cricket is called as “Tests” for this exact reason—it tests a player’s mental toughness in addition to their talent and abilities.
Since it’s difficult to score runs in Test matches, most teams tend to score three runs or less each over in red-ball contests.
On occasion, though, batters have been able to easily dispatch bowlers and rack up massive totals in a single day of play.
On the other hand, there have been several occasions in which teams, and occasionally both sides, have combined to score more than 500 runs in a single Test day of play.
England vs India – 588/6 in July 1936
When England played India in July 1936, they scored the most runs ever in a single day of Test cricket. On the second day of the match, 588 runs were scored for the loss of six wickets in the second Test of a three-match series. Day 2 saw England score 398/6, while India finished play with 190 for no loss. Although the game finished in a draw, it will always be remembered as the Test cricket match in which the most runs were scored in a single day.
England vs South Africa – 522/2 in June 1924
England’s contribution to the current second-highest run total in red-ball cricket history came twelve years before they combined with India to record the most runs in a day in Test cricket. Day 1 of the Test match ended with England winning 28/0 after bundling out South Africa for 273. Jack Hobbs scored a double century on the second day, and England declared on 531/2 after adding 503 runs for the cost of two wickets. Herbert Sutcliffe and Frank Wooley both made hundreds. Day 2 ended with South Africa on 19 for no loss at stumps, meaning that 522/2 runs were added to the total for the day.