Test cricket is known for its slow and calm action. But few batters brought thrilling action to the longest format with their batting assault on opponent bowlers.
These batters stormed their way to double centuries in a dominating manner. And not just any ordinary double hundreds but the quickest in terms of balls taken.
Here, we’ll look at the 5 fastest double centuries smashed in Test cricket.
5. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): 186 balls vs Pakistan, 2014
Brendon McCullum bulldozed his way into Test cricket in his T20-style batting. That helped him bag the fifth position on this list, as he brought up his double century in 186 balls.
During the third Test match against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014, he mercilessly punished Pakistani bowlers. Baz opened New Zealand’s innings with Tom Latham and got off with a four on the first ball he faced.
He made his intentions clear by getting a series of boundaries early in the innings. Despite losing Latham’s wicket on 51, McCullum kept fetching boundaries to keep New Zealand’s run rate floating close to 6.
He got to his fifty in 30 balls, hundred in 78 balls, and 150 in 137 balls. The Kiwi’s captain reached the 200-run mark in 186 balls, which included 21 fours and 11 maximums.
2 years later, McCullum would go on to hit the fastest hundred in Test cricket, off 54 balls.
4. Virender Sehwag (India): 182 balls vs Pakistan, 2006
Even before ‘Bazball’ was a thing, one man brought his wrath on opponent bowlers. He is none other than Virender Sehwag.
In the rain-affected 2006 Test against Pakistan in Lahore, the home side made Indian bowlers toil hard, amassing 679 runs in the first innings.
Now, it was time to do the uno reverse on Pakistan, albeit in Virender Sehwagesque style. Sehwag got off the mark with a four and continued finding occasional boundaries until the day’s play ended.
He resumed his knock from 36 off 35 on the third day. He raced away to 96 in a day that saw only 15 overs being bowled.
On the start of the fourth day, Sehwag reached his hundred in 93 balls. After getting to his 150, Sehwag ramped up his attack and dealt in boundaries, taking him to double ton in 182 balls.
Also Read | The 10 Greatest Indian Batsmen of All Time
3. Virender Sehwag (India): 168 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2009
3 years later, Virender Sehwag bettered his own record against another Asian neighbouring team. In the third Test against Sri Lanka at Brabourne Stadium, Sehwag wreaked havoc on Sri Lankan bowlers.
Sri Lanka posted 393 runs in the first innings, and to counter the total, Sehwag opened the innings with Murali Vijay. The Nawab of Najafgarh couldn’t get off the mark in style but didn’t take too long to find his usual tone.
His fifty came in 54 balls and brought up his hundred in 101 balls with a four. As soon as Viru got to the three digits, he amplified the attack.
He lost Vijay on the other side, but that didn’t stop him. He kept on sending the ball towards the boundary ropes.
Sehwag reached the 150-run mark in 130 deliveries. The opener raised his 6th Test double hundred in style with a string of fours in 168 balls.
He was on the verge of bagging a triple ton but fell short of 7 runs, ending a dominating knock on 293.
2. Ben Stokes (England): 163 balls vs South Africa, 2016
Ben Stokes occupies the second spot by storming a 163-ball double century against South Africa in 2016. It was the second Test of the 4-match series in Cape Town.
England elected to bat first and were struggling at 167 for 4. Out came Ben Stokes and pulled up England from the shackles along with Jonny Bairstow.
Initially, Stokes took a cautious approach before opening up to finding occasional boundaries with ease. He reached his fifty off 70 balls and hundred in 105 balls.
After completing his 150 in 135 balls, Stokes upped the ante, going for big hits. In the space of 28 balls, he raised his double ton in 163 balls, making it the second-fastest double century in Test cricket.
1. Nathan Astle (New Zealand): 153 balls vs England, 2002
Nathan Astle holds the record for scoring the fastest double century in Test cricket. He was in a complete destructive mode while chasing a 550-run target set by England.
Astle came to bat at No. 3 when New Zealand were in big trouble at 119 for 3. He almost played a lone battle, with not much support from the other end.
Astle completed his half-century in 54 balls and hundred in 114 balls. Then, the way he accelerated his knock, his next 100 runs were up in just 39 balls.
Astle was the last man to fall for New Zealand, ending their innings on 451 and leaving them short of the target by 98 runs. His 222-run knock came at a strike rate of 132.14.
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