Top 10 Highest partnerships in Tests in 2015

The year 2015 has witnessed some mammoth partnerships. Big partnerships serve to exhaust and demoralize the fielding teams in addition to piling up runs on the scoreboard. Test cricket tests the patience of cricketers; at times where there is no possibility of achieving a result, the team may have to be content with a draw. Though, it takes great application and skills to bat for long periods of time with a cautious approach. Here is a look at the highest partnerships in Test cricket this year. 10. Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq – 248: (© Getty Images) The first Test of the 3-match series at Abu Dhabi ended in a draw. Pakistan batted first and scored 523/8 before declaring their innings. This was largely due to the efforts of Shoaib Malik, who scored a magnificent 245 and Asad Shafiq who contributed 107. Their partnerships of 248 runs set the match up nicely for Pakistan, however, the England team put on a strong batting show piling up 598 in reply. The visitors had a chance to win the match after a second innings collapse saw the home side being bundled out for 173 in their second innings, however, England were denied a chance to take the lead in the series by fading light in a dramatic finish. 9. Azhar Ali, Younis Khan – 250: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The 2nd and final Test at Mirpur between the home side Bangladesh and Pakistan turned out to be a one-sided contest as the visitors sealed the series 1-0 by 328 runs. The chief architects of this win were Azhar Ali and Younis Khan. Azhar scored a solid 226 while the veteran Younis made an attacking 148 that helped their team post 557/8 in the first innings of the match. Their stand of 250 runs deflated the hosts to no end and in reply, they could manage only 203 runs. Pakistan batted again and set-up a target of 550 which was always going to be a huge mountain to climb. Bangladesh was bowled out for 221 in their second innings giving Pakistan a well-deserved win. 8. Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja – 258: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The Boxing Day Test at MCG, the second of the 3-match series, continued the Australian domination over the visiting West Indies side. Opener Joe Burns scored a wonderful 128 justifying the faith shown in him by the selectors. Usman Khawaja, who replaced the in-form Shaun Marsh, stamped his class and authority with a superb 144 in a chanceless knock. Two more hundreds from skipper Steve Smith and Adam Voges took the Aussies to 551/3 in their first innings. Though, it was the 258-run stand between Burns and Khwaja that troubled the visitors the most. The Windies were bowled out for 271 and 282 in their 2 innings thereby giving the home side a 177-run win and an inaccessible 2-0 lead in the series. 7. Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor – 265: (Photo credit: TONY ASHBY/AFP/Getty Images) After losing the first of the 3-match series against the home team Australia, the New Zealanders had to dig deep to salvage a draw in the second Test at Perth and they did so in fine style. The Aussies scored 559/9 in their first innings and the Kiwi reply was nothing short of monumental. Williamson’s elegant 166 and Taylor’s marvelous 290 frustrated the Aussie bowlers to no end. Their partnership of 265 runs helped their team post a mammoth 624 runs in the first innings. The Aussies batted well in their second innings declaring at 385/7 and in reply the visitors batted for 28 overs losing just 2 wickets to ensure a draw. The highlight of the match was Taylor’s knock and Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson’s retirement. 6. Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan – 283: (Photo Source: Getty Images) The one-off Test between India and the home side Bangladesh was dominated by the visitors. Rain played spoilsport hence denying India to take home the winner’s trophy. Winning the toss the visitors decided to bat first and were given a perfect start by their openers Vijay and Dhawan. While Vijay was solid as usual scoring 150, Dhawan was at his attacking best in a brilliant knock worth 173 off just 195 balls. Their 283-run stand helped India post 462/6. In reply, the home side was bowled out for 256 and asked to follow on however rain had the final say as only 15 overs were possible in their second innings. 5. Chris Rogers, Steve Smith – 284: Chris Rogers. (© Getty Images) The Home of Cricket, Lord’s was the venue for the second Ashes Test between England and Australia. The home side, that had carried their 1-0 lead from Cardiff in the 5-match series, was made to toil hard in London as Rogers and Smith batted solidly on a lifeless pitch. Batting first the Aussies scored 566/8 thanks to the opener’s 173 and the number three’s 215. England could manage only 312 in their first innings handing the advantage to the arch rivals. Australia scored at a brisk pace and set the home team an unlikely 509 for victory. Their bowlers ran riot and bundled out England for a paltry 103 thereby securing a huge win by 405 runs. 4. David Warner, Usman Khawaja – 302: (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) The Perth Test witnessed twin double hundreds, one from Ross Taylor while the other from the dashing Aussie opener David Warner. His 253 and Khawaja’s 121 ensured a first innings total of 559/9 for the home side on a batting friendly WACA surface. Their partnership of 302 was filled with fours and sixes as the Kiwis struggled to keep a check on the scoring rate. Warner’s knock included 24 fours and 2 sixes while Khawaja’s was filled with 11 fours and an equal number of maximums. The draw kept the series alive ahead of the Pink ball 3rd Test at Adelaide. 3. Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes – 312: (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) The first Test of the 2-match series between Bangladesh and Pakistan was a drawn affair at Khulna. Batting first the home team scored 332 and in reply Pakistan piled up 628 runs. The Bangladeshi openers led a strong reply playing positive cricket. Tamim registered the highest individual score for a Bangladesh batsman by hammering 206 while Kayes was equally impressive in his 150. The home team scored 555/6 in their second innings thanks to this 312-run stand between the openers. The team batted for 136 overs to keep the series alive. 2. Kane Williamson, BJ Watling – 365*: Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: Getty Images) New Zealand started the year with a win against Sri Lanka in Wellington. The 2nd and final Test of the series was a game of fluctuating fortunes. The home side, leading 1-0 in the series, was asked to bat by the visitors on day 1. It turned out to be a correct decision as Sri Lanka bowled out the Kiwis for 221 and in reply scored 356. The home side was in trouble at 159/5 in its second innings as the visitors strengthened their grip on the match. However, Williamson stood firm in the company of wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling to script a remarkable comeback. Both batsmen remained unbeaten and took the score to 524 setting a target of 390 for the visitors. Williamson’s majestic 242 and Watling’s gutsy 142 lifted the spirits of the team to no end. The islanders were bowled for 196 handing a 193-run victory to the Kiwis who sealed the series 2-0. 1. Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh – 449: (© WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) Adam Voges scored his first double century and Shaun Marsh added 182 runs to combine for a world-record fourth-wicket partnership of 449 runs. This took Australia to a formidable 583/4 in the first innings of the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart in the ongoing series. Both batsmen remained unbeaten as the Aussies declared the first innings on day 2 of the Test. Voges’ 269* was filled with 33 fours while Marsh’s knock included 15 fours and 1 six. The home sided batted only once as the visitors could manage only 223 and 148 in their two outings with the bat. (Also read: Top 10 Highest margins of defeat in Tests)

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Top 10 Highest partnerships in Tests in 2015

8. Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja – 258:

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