Test cricket is the game in its purest form, and the most intense battles between bat and ball are witnessed here. The game is often dominated by patient, disciplined batting and relentless bowling, but there are rare occasions when the balance tips, and batsmen unleash a barrage of runs, rewriting the record books. This article delves into the captivating stories behind the Top 5 Highest Runs in a Single Over in Test Cricket History. Top 5 Highest Runs in a Single Over in Test Cricket Runs Player Bowler Match Location Season 35 Jasprit Bumrah SCJ Broad India v England Birmingham 2022 28 BC Lara RJ Peterson West Indies v South Africa Johannesburg 2003-04 28 GJ Bailey JM Anderson Australia v England Perth 2013-14 28 KA Maharaj JE Root South Africa v England Port Elizabeth 2019-20 27 Shahid Afridi Harbhajan Singh Pakistan v India Lahore 2005-06 Detail Analysis of Top 5 Highest Runs in a Single Over in Test Cricket Jasprit Bumrah Image Source : ESPN Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in the record books with a thunderous display of power-hitting in a 2022 Test match against England. He smacked two sixes and four fours against the legendary Stuart Broad, scoring an astonishing 35 runs in one over. This was a remarkable feat that Bumrah exhibited, proving that he is no only a deadly bowler but also an effective batsman who made the most of his chance. Even at a high-pressure situation, at the end of India's innings, Bumrah never lost his composure and just went on a rampage and left the opponents in total awe of all his cricketing skills. Also Read | Top 10 Bowlers With Most Wickets in Test Cricket | All-Time Greats Brian Lara (28 runs) Image Source : ZAP Cricket Ever-graceful Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen of his time, did it again by going into the record books with a breathtaking display of hitting in a Test match against South Africa in 2003. Coming up against a left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, Lara opened up a sensational assault and hammered 28 runs from an over. Four boundaries and two towering sixes were there in Lara's masterclass, and what was great was his perfect timing and power. What made this achievement even more spectacular was Lara's composure and nonchalance afterwards. Unlike many batsmen who would have celebrated such an achievement with unbridled enthusiasm, Lara just continued, his calm and composed nature a testament to his class and experience. This was a hallmark of Lara's illustrious career: an ability to maintain his focus and poise under pressure. George Bailey (28 runs) Image Source : Getty Images A 2013 Test against England saw Australian batsman George Bailey prove that he was much more than a limited-over specialist, but a very capable Test player. He faced James Anderson and unleashed a barrage of boundaries, scoring 28 runs from one over. Bailey's pure display of power and precision was that much more impressive considering he was against a seasoned Test bowler like Anderson. Four boundaries and two sixes Bailey hit off that over proved he had the game in him to cope with the pressure of the long game. Not necessarily an eye-catcher like some of his colleagues, yet seizing the moment and leaving the impression on the game is surely testimony to his skills and hard work. Keshav Maharaj (28 runs) Image Source : AFP South African all-rounder Keshav Maharaj is primarily known for his left-arm spin bowling, but in a 2019 Test match against England, he showed his batting skills as well. Playing against part-time spinner Joe Root, Maharaj unleashed a thrilling onslaught with 28 runs in just one over. The way Maharaj bashed that stuff - four boundaries and two sixes. Not so long ones though; he can clear the boundary like this. A few might feel that the achievement would seem less spectacular, especially considering the fact that Root is more of a part-time bowler. Be that as it may, there is no gainsaying the left-hander shots brutal nature. Maharaj's all-round performance not only gave him his due but also reminded everybody that in this world of ever-changing Test cricket, even the most inconspicuous can be found in the limelight and shine at its finest while making unforgettable moments. Shahid Afridi (27 runs) Image Source : AFP Flamboyant Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi is known for his explosive batting in limited-overs cricket, but he has shown his capability to dominate even in the longest format of the game during a 2005 Test match against India when he came up against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, whom he unleashed a series of sixes on to score 27 runs in an over. Afridi was just a treat to the eyes as he hit four consecutive sixes off Harbhajan's bowling. It was not only a show of Afridi's clearance of the boundary but also showed his hand-eye coordination and speed of bat in relation to the ball. While Afridi's Test career is overshadowed by his exploits in limited-overs cricket, the moments of brilliance he produces in the longest format of the game speak to his versatility as a cricketer. Also Read | Who Smashed the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket? Conclusion: The Top 5 Highest Runs in a Single Over in Test Cricket history are a testament to the sheer power and skill of the batsmen involved. These records, from Jasprit Bumrah relentlessly on Stuart Broad to effortlessly elegant Brian Lara and then Shahid Afridi explodes all the way, present to us the unpredictiveness of the game and the excited way it is. It's exciting to see if records will be broken in the forthcoming years, thus further deepening into their legacies as the landscape of test cricket continues to change.