Double centuries are quite rare in limited overs format, and only a few big names, Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptil, Sachin, and a couple of other players, have achieved it.
However, test cricket is a five-day long match, and players score double centuries now and then. The former Australian legend, Don Bradman, holds the record for Most Double Centuries In Test Cricket.
Scoring a double century is a landmark that is crucial in winning a match for a team and player. However, there are many occasions when players have to spend 3 to 4 sessions on the crease just to save the match for their team.
This is where the role of the double century comes into the picture to save the match and improve a player’s career graph.
Cricketers with Most Double Centuries In Test Cricket
The history of test cricket is 145 years long, and this game has witnessed so much through this time. From witnessing once-in-a-lifetime performances like 400 by Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar’s
consistency over decades to score 100 centuries, there are many surprising records in test cricket. Several players have reached the 200-run mark from time to time in their life.
Here’s a list of ten players with the highest double centuries in test cricket:
| Player | Player | Test Matches | Test Runs | Double Centuries/Centuries | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Don Bradman | Australia | 52 | 6996 | 12/29 | 99.94 |
| Kumar Sangakara | Sri Lanka | 134 | 12400 | 11/38 | 57.14 |
| Brian Lara | West Indies | 131 | 11953 | 9/34 | 52.98 |
| Wally Hammond | England | 85 | 7249 | 7/22 | 58.46 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 102 | 8074 | 7/27 | 49.53 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 149 | 11814 | 7/34 | 49.85 |
| Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 90 | 5502 | 6/16 | 38.48 |
| Virender Sehwag | India | 104 | 8586 | 6/23 | 49.34 |
| Javed Miandad | Pakistan | 124 | 8832 | 6/23 | 52.57 |
| Younis Khan | Pakistan | 118 | 10099 | 6/34 | 52.09 |
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Don Bradman (12)
You cannot talk about test cricket without mentioning Sir Don Bradman. With a test average of 99.94 to score 6996 runs, he was one of the greatest test batsmen of all time.
He scored his first double-century while playing at Lords against England in 1930.
In his 20 years long career, Sir Don Bradman scored 12 double centuries, and most proved to be match-winning knocks for Australia.
He was also one of the most successful the captain of the Australian cricket team and a gifted batsman. With 29 centuries and 13 fifties, Bradman was way ahead of all other players.
Kumar Sangakara (11)
Sangakara is one of the great Sri Lankan batting legends known as his generation’s best test batsman. He has been part of some huge wins for his team in test cricket.
His consistency is unparalleled, and he holds the record for most centuries (38) by any Sri Lankan player in the test.
He scored his first test double ton against Pakistan in 2002 to mark a long test career of 12 double centuries and 38 centuries. Throughout his test career, Sangakara scored 12400 runs in 134 matches.
Bangladesh was his favorite opponent, as he scored three double-centuries against them.
Brian Lara (9)
Brian Lara is a name that comes to mind whenever we talk about the best left-handed players of all time.
With one of the most entertaining batting styles and the highest individual test score of 400, he surely belongs in the list of best test batsmen of all time.
In addition, he has scored nine double centuries in test cricket against different opponents.
During his rookie test matches, he scored his first double century for West Indies against England at Lord’s in 1997. Lara is the highest run scorer for West Indies in tests with 11953 runs in 131 test matches with 34 centuries and nine double centuries.
Wally Hammond (7)
Wally Hammond was an English cricketer and a very good batsman during his era. He scored a record of 7 double centuries for his country with 22 hundred.
With an average of 58.46, Hammond was a batsman capable of scoring big numbers consistently.
He also captained the England test team and was a successful batsman with sound technique.
Out of 7 double centuries, he scored four against Australia, a couple against the Kiwis, and a 336-run double century against India.
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Virat Kohli (7)
Virat Kohli is the current Indian cricket team captain and one of the best test batsmen in the world. He is known for his aggressive batting style and being a one-day specialist.
However, this modern master has proved several times in test cricket that he can also score runs.
Despite his recent rough patch in test cricket, Virat Kohli also has 7 double centuries in his name from just 102 matches at an average of 56.30.
He is a promising player with a lot of commitment and is expected to go a long way in test cricket.
Mahela Jayawardene (7)
Known for his technique and beautiful shots, Mahela Jayawardene is a Sri Lankan test legend who holds the record for most test centuries by any player from Sri Lanka.
Out of 7 double centuries, three times he scored them against India, which makes it even more special for him.
Marvan Atapattu (6)
Marvan Atapattu is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and one of the best opening batsmen of his era. He was an aggressive player with a strong technique and could attack the bowlers from the first ball onwards.
He has scored 6 double centuries out of 86 tests to score 4516 runs at an average of 48.94 with 15 centuries and six double centuries to his name.
Virender Sehwag (6)
Virender Sehwag is a name that comes to talk whenever any discussion about the Indian cricket team and its best players of all time.
He is known as one of the most aggressive batsmen in test cricket who loves to attack the bowlers from the first ball.
He scored six double centuries in his long career with an average of 50.36 with 13 centuries and six double hundreds to his name.
Javed Miandad (6)
Javed Miandad belonged to the best era of Pakistan test cricket and was an outstanding batsman for his country.
He is known as the best player in test cricket in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with an average of 55.65 with 12 centuries and six double centuries to his name.
In addition, he was the best No. 3 batsman for Pakistan in test cricket due to his aggressive batting style. He played a great role in popularizing cricket in Pakistan and upbringing the attacking mentality for the Pakistan cricket team.
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Younis Khan (6)
Younis Khan is one of the best players for Pakistan and has scored a total of 6 double centuries in his 112 test matches to score 2371 runs at an average of 42.59 with 12 centuries and six double hundreds to his name.
He started his career as an opener but later became a brilliant middle-order batsman. In his long and historic career of 118 test matches, Younis scored 10099 runs with six double centuries and 34 hundred.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Who scored the first double-century in the Test?
The English batsman Reginald E Foster scored the first double-century in test matches in 1903. In ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar scored their first double-century in a match against South Africa.
Q2. Who is the highest scorer in the Test?
The God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, is the all-time highest run scorer in the test. He has scored 15921 runs with six double centuries and 51 hundred in a total of 200 test matches.
Q3. Who has the most triple centuries in Test cricket?
Only 27 players have scored a total of 31 triple-centuries in test cricket, and no player has scored more than two triple-centuries. Sir Don Bradman, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, and Chris Gayle each have scored two triple centuries.