A cricket side’s score is the result of the various runs each individual batsman has scored and the extras conceded by the fielding unit. There are three official formats in cricket in which batsman can score runs: Test match (played across 5 days), ODIs (50 overs per side) and T20s (20 overs per side).
In test cricket, both teams can bat twice in alternate fashion. Four scenarios can exist:
One innings can last for all five days if the batsman stick to the crease (nearly impossible)
Both teams can get only one chance each for batting (possible but rare)
One team bats twice but the other bats once (common)
Both teams get two innings each to bat (common)
In these five days, a single batsman can score as many runs as possible. In cricket history, West Indies batsman Brian Lara hold then record for the highest individual score in a single innings: 400*. He is the only player to reach the 400 mark. Triple centuries (a score of 300) have been witnessed relatively seldom. Double centuries (200) are more common than triple centuries, while centuries (100) are the most common. In women’s cricket Betty Snowball of England holds the record for the highest individual score in test cricket: 189.
In ODIs, a single team can bat once for 50 overs, that is 300 legal balls. Based on this, it is difficult to imagine a single batsman scoring over 200 runs. But such instances have taken place more than once. India’s Rohit Sharma hold the record for the highest individual score in ODIs: 264. In women’s cricket, Amelia Kerr (232*) holds this record.
In T20s, a single team can bat once for 20 overs, which is 120 legal balls. Chris Gayle of West Indies has scored 175* and Alyssa Heally of Australian has scored 148* which is the highest individual score in both men and women T20 cricket respectively.
