3 fastest-ever double-centuries in Test cricket
Scoring a double-century in Test cricket demands a lot of skills, patience and endurance but, scoring them on a consistent basis is only possible with grit and determination. After adding the first 100 runs, a set batter needs to be very cautious from thereon and if he excels at it, then it would be a matter of time before he goes on to add the next 100 runs in his tally.
While many greats of the game have scored double hundreds in the traditional format, only a handful of them have scored it at a brisk rate to etch their names in cricketing history. Without further ado, here’s a look at who they are.
Virender Sehwag: Virender Sehwag was known as a destructive batter during his playing days and made no compromise while playing Test cricket either as he attacked from the word ‘go’. It took just 168 deliveries for Sehwag to score 200 runs against Sri Lanka at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium in December 2009.
The Delhi cricketer scored 293 off 254 balls before giving a return catch to spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan who deprived him of a third Test triple century. The elegant opener had spent 366 minutes at the crease and his knock included 40 fours and seven sixes.
Ben Stokes: England all-rounder Ben Stokes hammered the second-fastest century in Test cricket when he slammed 258 runs off 198 deliveries against South Africa in Cape Town in the year 2016. Stokes reached the landmark of the double century in just 163 deliveries. Stokes’ innings included 30 fours and 11 maximums as the left-handed batter boasted a strike rate of 130.30. England posted 629/6d in the first innings as the match got drawn.
Nathan Astle: Dynamic New Zealand opener Nathan Astle played a whirlwind knock against England at Christchurch in March 2002 where he registered the fastest double century in the history of Test cricket from 153 balls. Astle meant business right away as he scored 100 runs off just 39 balls.
The Kiwi batting sensation scored 222 runs off 168 deliveries including 28 boundaries and 11 maximums. He spent 231 minutes at the crease. This phenomenal record is yet to be broken to date.
