On this day 130 years ago
Australia’s Percy McDonnell and skipper Billy Murdoch put on unbeaten 205 runs
carrying the visitors from 158/2 to 363/2 by the close of play. It was the
first time any pair put together a 200 run partnership in test cricket. Early
on Day 2, McDonnell was
caught at the wicket after adding a single to his overnight score.
Murdoch went on to make the first ever double century in test cricket before
eventually getting dismissed for 211. A couple of days before in Galle, the Sri
Lankan southpaw Kumar Sangakkara registered his 10th score of 200 or
more in tests thereby over taking West Indian legend Brian Lara in the list of
scoring most double centuries. Only the impeccable Bradman is now ahead of
Sanga’s in the list. It was his 3rd double century against Pakistan taking
his tally to 2728 runs against them in 20 tests at a near Bradmanesque average
of 82.66. In this edition of The Sight Screen, we look into all the facts and
figures related to double centuries in test cricket.
 |
| Billy Murdoch - the first to reach the landmark of 200 |
Landmarks
#
|
Player
|
Runs
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
1st
|
Billy
Murdoch
|
211
|
Australia
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
12
Aug 1884
|
25th
|
Don
Bradman
|
244
|
Australia
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
18
Aug 1934
|
50th
|
Eric
Rowan
|
236
|
S
Africa
|
England
|
Leeds
|
27
Jul 1951
|
100th
|
Glenn
Turner
|
223*
|
New
Zealand
|
West
Indies
|
Kingston
|
19
Feb 1972
|
150th
|
Javed
Miandad
|
271
|
Pakistan
|
New
Zealand
|
Auckland
|
25
Feb 1989
|
200th
|
Sachin
Tendulkar
|
201*
|
India
|
Zimabwe
|
Nagpur
|
26
Nov 2000
|
250th
|
Sachin
Tendulkar
|
248*
|
India
|
Bangladsh
|
Dhaka
|
12
Dec 2004
|
300th
|
Alistair
Cook
|
235
|
England
|
Australia
|
Gabba
|
29
Nov 2010
|
332nd
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
221
|
Sri Lanka
|
Pakistan
|
Galle
|
09 Aug 2014
|
First double centuries for each team
Player
|
Runs
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Billy Murdoch
|
211
|
Australia
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
12
Aug 1884
|
Tip Foster
|
287
|
England
|
Australia
|
SCG
|
14
Dec 1903
|
Aubrey Faulkner
|
204
|
South Africa
|
Australia
|
MCG
|
03
Jan 1911
|
Clifford Roach
|
209
|
West Indies
|
England
|
Georgetown
|
21
Feb 1930
|
Martin Donnelly
|
206
|
New Zealand
|
England
|
Lord’s
|
28
Jun 1949
|
Imtiaz Ahmed
|
209
|
Pakistan
|
New
Zealand
|
Lahore
|
30
Oct 1955
|
Polly Umrigar
|
223
|
India
|
New
Zealand
|
Hyderabad
|
20
Nov 1955
|
Brendon Kuruppu
|
201*
|
Sri Lanka
|
New
Zealand
|
Colombo
(CCC)
|
19
Apr 1987
|
Dave Hougton
|
266
|
Zimbabwe
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Bulawayo
|
21
Oct 1994
|
Mushfiqur Rahim
|
200
|
Bangladesh
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Galle
|
11
Mar 2013
|
First double centuries against each team
Player
|
Runs
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Billy Murdoch
|
211
|
Australia
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
11
Aug 1884
|
Tip Foster
|
287
|
England
|
Australia
|
SCG
|
12
Dec 1903
|
Victor Trumper
|
214*
|
Australia
|
South Africa
|
Adelaide
|
10
Jan 1911
|
Pasty Hendren
|
205
|
England
|
West Indies
|
Port
of Spain
|
05
Feb 1930
|
Wally Hammond
|
227
|
England
|
New Zealand
|
Christchurch
|
24
Mar 1933
|
Wally Hammond
|
217
|
England
|
India
|
The
Oval
|
15
Aug 1936
|
Denis Compton
|
278
|
England
|
Pakistan
|
Nottingham
|
02
Jul 1954
|
Qasim Omar
|
206
|
Pakistan
|
Sri Lanka
|
Faisalabad
|
20
Oct 1985
|
Vinod Kambli
|
227
|
India
|
Zimbabwe
|
Delhi
|
14
Mar 1993
|
Marvan Atapattu
|
201
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Bangladesh
|
Colombo
(SSC)
|
07
Sep 2001
|
Double centuries – country wise distribution
Team
|
Span
|
Highest
|
Scored for
|
Scored against
|
Australia
|
1884
– 2012
|
380
|
67
|
37
|
Bangladesh
|
2013
- 2013
|
200
|
1
|
19
|
England
|
1903
– 2014
|
333
|
52
|
64
|
India
|
1955
– 2013
|
319
|
43
|
51
|
New
Zealand
|
1949
- 2014
|
302
|
19
|
39
|
Pakistan
|
1955
- 2013
|
337
|
36
|
33
|
South
Africa
|
1910
- 2013
|
311*
|
27
|
25
|
Sri
Lanka
|
1987
– 2014
|
374
|
33
|
22
|
West
Indies
|
1930
– 2014
|
400*
|
50
|
31
|
Zimbabwe
|
1994
– 2014
|
266
|
4
|
11
|
Most double centuries in career
Player
|
#200s
|
Team
|
Innings batted
|
Highest score
|
Don Bradman
|
12
|
Australia
|
80
|
334
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
10
|
West
Indies
|
219
|
319
|
Brian Lara
|
9
|
Sri
Lanka
|
232
|
400*
|
Wally Hammond
|
7
|
England
|
140
|
336*
|
Mahela Jayawardene
|
7
|
Sri
Lanka
|
250
|
374
|
Javed Miandad
|
6
|
Pakistan
|
189
|
280*
|
Marvan Atapattu
|
6
|
Sri
Lanka
|
156
|
249
|
Sachin Tendulkar
|
6
|
India
|
329
|
248*
|
Virender Sehwag
|
6
|
India
|
180
|
319
|
Ricky Ponting
|
6
|
Australia
|
287
|
257
|
 |
| Don Bradman - rarely there are batting tables without him occupying the top |
Most double centuries against a particular opposition
Player
|
#200s
|
Against
|
Innings batted
|
Highest score
|
Don Bradman
|
8
|
England
|
63
|
334
|
Wally Hammond
|
4
|
Australia
|
58
|
251
|
Marvan Atapattu
|
3
|
Zimbabwe
|
15
|
249
|
Sunil Gavaskar
|
3
|
West Indies
|
48
|
236*
|
Brian Lara
|
3
|
Australia
|
58
|
277
|
Brendon McCullum
|
3
|
India
|
19
|
302
|
Ricky Ponting
|
3
|
India
|
51
|
257
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
3
|
Bangladesh
|
21
|
319
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
3
|
Pakistan
|
39
|
230
|
Virender Sehwag
|
3
|
Pakistan
|
14
|
309
|
Players scoring double centuries on debuts
Player
|
Runs
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Tip Foster
|
287
|
England
|
Australia
|
SCG
|
14
Dec 1903
|
Lawrence Rowe
|
214
|
West
Indies
|
New
Zealand
|
Kingston
|
17
Feb 1972
|
Brendon Kuruppu
|
201*
|
Sri
Lanka
|
New
Zealand
|
Colombo
(CCC)
|
19
Apr 1987
|
Mathew Sinclair
|
214
|
New Zealand
|
West
Indies
|
Wellington
|
27
Dec 1999
|
Jacques Rudolph
|
222*
|
South
Africa
|
Bangladesh
|
Chittagong
|
26
Apr 2003
|
Players scoring double centuries in their last test
Player
|
Runs
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Andy Sandham
|
325
|
England
|
West
Indies
|
Kingston
|
04
Apr 1930
|
Bill Ponsford
|
266
|
Australia
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
18
Aug 1934
|
Seymour Nurse
|
258
|
West
Indies
|
New
Zealand
|
Christchurch
|
14
Mar 1969
|
Aravinda de Silva
|
206
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Bangladesh
|
Colombo
(PSS)
|
22
Jul 2002
|
Jason Gillespie
|
201*
|
Australia
|
Bangladesh
|
Chittagong
|
19
Apr 2006
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
221
|
Sri Lanka
|
Pakistan
|
Galle
|
09 Aug 2014
|
* Kumar Sangakkara is the only player in the above list
who has not yet retired from test cricket.
Grounds with most double centuries
Ground
|
#200s
|
Tests played
|
Adelaide Oval, Australia
|
20
|
72
|
Kennington Oval, England
|
19
|
96
|
Lord’s, England
|
16
|
129
|
Sabina Park, Jamaica
|
15
|
47
|
SCG, Australia
|
14
|
102
|
 |
| Brian Lara - master of making daddy hundreds but rarely ended up in the winning side |
Fastest double centuries (balls faced)
Player
|
Balls
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Nathan Astle (222)
|
153
|
New
Zealand
|
England
|
Christchurch
|
16
Mar 2002
|
Virender Sehwag(293)
|
168
|
India
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Mumbai
(BS)
|
03
Dec 2009
|
Virender Sehwag(254)
|
182
|
India
|
Pakistan
|
Lahore
|
16
Jan 2006
|
Virender Sehwag(319)
|
194
|
India
|
South
Africa
|
Chennai
|
28
Mar 2008
|
Hershcelle Gibbs (228)
|
211
|
South
Africa
|
Pakistan
|
Cape
Town
|
02
Jan 2003
|
Fastest double centuries (minutes batted)
Player
|
Mins
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Don Bradman (334)
|
214
|
Australia
|
England
|
Leeds
|
11
Jul 1930
|
Nathan Astle (222)
|
217
|
New
Zealand
|
England
|
Christchurch
|
16
Mar 2002
|
Stanley McCabe (232)
|
223
|
Australia
|
England
|
Nottingam
|
13
Jun 1938
|
Victor Trumper (214*)
|
226
|
Australia
|
South
Africa
|
Adelaide
|
10
Jan 1911
|
Don Bradman(254)
|
234
|
Australia
|
England
|
Lord’s
|
30
Jun 1930
|
Slowest double centuries (balls faced)
Player
|
Balls
|
Team
|
Opposition
|
Venue
|
Date
|
Brendon Kuruppu(201*)
|
548
|
Sri
Lanka
|
New
Zealand
|
Colombo
(CCC)
|
19
Apr 1987
|
Marvan Atapattu(201*)
|
536
|
Sri
Lanka
|
England
|
Galle
|
23
Feb 2001
|
Dave Hougton (266)
|
524
|
Zimbabwe
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Bulawayo
|
21
Oct 1994
|
Gary Kirsten (275)
|
522
|
South
Africa
|
England
|
Durban
|
30
Dec 1999
|
Grant Flower (201*)
|
520
|
Zimbabwe
|
Pakistan
|
Harare
|
01
Feb 1995
|
Two double centuries in the same innings
Player 1
|
Runs
|
Player 2
|
Runs
|
For
|
Vs
|
Venue
|
Year
|
Bill Ponsford
|
266
|
Don Bradman
|
244
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
The
Oval
|
1934
|
SG Barnes
|
234
|
Don Bradman
|
234
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
SCG
|
1946
|
Conrad Hunte
|
260
|
Gary Sobers
|
365*
|
WI
|
Pak
|
Kingston
|
1958
|
Bill Lawry
|
210
|
Bob Simpson
|
201
|
Aus
|
WI
|
Bridgetown
|
1965
|
Mudassar Nassar
|
231
|
Javed Miandad
|
280*
|
Pak
|
Ind
|
Hyderabad
|
1983
|
Graeme Flower
|
201
|
Mike Gatting
|
207
|
Eng
|
Ind
|
Chennai
|
1985
|
Quasim Omar
|
206
|
Javed Miandad
|
203*
|
Pak
|
SL
|
Faislabad
|
1985
|
Sanath Jayasuriya
|
340
|
Roshan Mahanama
|
225
|
SL
|
Ind
|
Colombo(RPS)
|
1997
|
Ijaz Ahmed
|
211
|
Inzamam-ul-Haq
|
200*
|
Pak
|
SL
|
Dhaka
(BS)
|
1999
|
M Atapattu
|
249
|
Kumar Sangakkara
|
270
|
SL
|
Zimb
|
Bulawayo
|
2004
|
Wavell Hinds
|
213
|
Shiv Chanderpaul
|
203*
|
WI
|
SA
|
Georgetown
|
2005
|
K Sangakkara
|
287
|
M Jayawardene
|
374
|
SL
|
SA
|
Colombo(SSC)
|
2006
|
Neil McKenzie
|
226
|
Graeme Smith
|
232
|
SA
|
Bang
|
Chittagong
|
2008
|
Gautam Gambhir
|
206
|
VVS Laxman
|
200*
|
Ind
|
Aus
|
Delhi
|
2008
|
M Jayawardene
|
240
|
Thilan Samaraweera
|
231
|
SL
|
Pak
|
Karachi
|
2009
|
Ricky Ponting
|
221
|
Michael Clarke
|
210
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
Adelaide
|
2012
|
 |
| Kumar Sangakkara - 10 double centuries and counting |
** All dates in this article are the days on which the double centuries were completed.
FUNNY FACTS
# Brian Lara is the only player to score more than one double century
in a losing cause. He scored 3 in all in losses.
# Ricky Ponting’s 242 against India at Adelaide in 2003 is the highest
individual score in a losing cause.
# Among specialist batsmen Alec Stewart has played most test without a
double century – 133, closely followed by Mark Waugh with 128 tests.
# Jacques Kallis played the most tests before scoring a double century
– 143 tests & 238 innings.
# Brian Lara(5) has scored the most double centuries as captain
followed by Don Bradman & Michael Clarke, both of whom have 4 each.
# Graham Dowling (239 vs Ind, Christchurch, 1968) & Shivnarine
Chanerpaul (203* vs SA, Georgetown, 2005) are the only ones to score a double century
on their captaincy debut.
#2 players were left stranded on 199 - Andy Flower (vs. SA at Harare,
2001) and Kumar Sangakkara (vs. Pak, Galle, 2012).
# Tip Foster , Martin Donnelly , Dennis Atkinson , David Llyod , Faoud Bacchus, Taslim Arif , Brendon Kuruppu, Robert Key, Brad
Hodge and Jason Gillespie converted their only test centuries to a double.
# 8 Wicket Keepers have scored a double century each – Imtiaz Ahmed was
the first to do it in 1955 and MS Dhoni the latest in 2013.
#The longest gap between 2 double centuries is 10 years & 309 days
(bw 7 June 1911 & 12 Nov 1921). If we exclude the world wars it is 10 years
& 125 days (bw 11 Aug 1884 & 14 Dec 1894).
# Hanif Mohammad (in 1955), Dilip Sardesai (1965), Saleem Malik (1994),
Gary Kirsten (1999), Andy Flower(2000), VVS Laxman(2001) & Darren Bravo(2013) are the players to
score a double century while following on.
# The first player to score a double century in First Class cricket was
William Ward (278 runs for MCC vs Norfolk at Lord's
in 1820).
#Arthur Fagg is the only player to score 2 double centuries in the same
FC game – 244 & 202* for Kent vs Essex at Colchester in1938.
# 14 players scored double century on their FC debut – Tom Mardsen
being the first in1826 & Jiwanjot Singh the latest in 2012.
# Don Bradman scored the most double centuries in FC cricket (37)
closely followed by Wally Hammond (36). Bradman also scored the most in a
single season (6 in 1930).
