Top 5 Batsmen to score fastest double century in Test Cricket

Test Cricket provides the opportunities for batsmen to play some big knocks as it is a format with unlimited overs which allows batsmen to take their time and build their innings. Some of the players enormously take the advantage and go on to score double and even triple centuries. But there have been such players who play even this format like a limited-overs one and didn't take too many balls to score big runs.

Here are 5 players to have scored the fastest double century in test cricket :

5. BRENDON McCULLUM - 186 balls

The former New Zealand skipper is one of the few to have done the exceptional for his team. McCullum took 186 balls to smash a double hundred against Pakistan in 2014 at Sharjah. While batting first, Pakistan posted a total of 351 runs in their 1st inning. 

In reply to this, kiwis went on to score 690 runs in their 1st inning, thanks to some extraordinary batting from the skipper himself who scored 202 runs in 188 balls.
The hosts looked faded in their 2nd innings and were all out for just 259 to gift an inning and 80-run victory to the visitors.

Mark Craig was adjudged as the Player of the match for his 10-wicket performance but McCullum's fiery inning was the delightful part of the contest which was praised by many.

 

4. VIRENDER SEHWAG - 182 balls

India's Virender Sehwag was one of the few cricketers who loved to play all formats with the same intent which was going hard on the bowlers. Sehwag liked to take on very early in his innings regardless of the bowler he was facing.

He stands fourth in this list for his 182-ball double ton against Pakistan at Lahore in 2006. Pakistan declared their 1st inning at a gigantic total of 679. India also looked promising for their total of 410 at the loss of just 1 wicket.

Sehwag's 410-run partnership with Rahul Dravid features the list of highest opening partnerships in test cricket. The match however witnessed six centuries in only two possible innings as the match ended in a draw. Virender Sehwag was adjudged as player of the match for displaying an exhibition of runs.

 

3. VIRENDER SEHWAG - 168 balls

Viru again reached this feat in 2009 in a Test against Sri Lanka at Brabourne Stadium. Lankans scored 393 in their 1st innings. India declared their 1st innings after putting up a huge total of 726 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Sehwag contributed with a 254-ball 293 run inning.

He smacked his double ton in just 168 balls that included 40 fours and 7 sixes. Lankans were all-out for just 309 runs in their 2nd innings and lost the match by an inning and 24 runs.

2. BEN STOKES - 163 balls

England's Ben Stokes is regarded as the most valuable all-rounder in world cricket at the moment. He took 163 balls to score his only double century in test cricket in 2016 against South Africa at Cape Town.

England declared their 1st innings after posting a total of 629 at the loss of 6 wickets. Ben Stokes went hard on African bowlers and scored 258 runs in 198 balls which included 30 fours and 11 huge maximums.

However, South Africa also looked brilliant and scored 627 in their 1st innings. The long batting efforts from both teams drove the match towards a draw.

 

1. NATHAN ASTLE - 153 balls

New Zealand's Nathan Astle holds the record for the fastest double century in test cricket. Astle claimed this feat in 2002 in a test match against England. While batting first, England posted a total of 228 runs whereas New Zealand only managed to score 148 in their 1st innings.
England made a good comeback as they declared their 2nd innings on 468/6 and set the target of 520 runs for the Kiwis to win. Chasing the target, NZ got a huge boost through Astle's performance who played a magnificent knock of 222 runs in 168 balls.

He smashed his double century in just 153 balls. Even after a heavy contribution from Astle, New Zealand lost the match by 98 runs.