Don Bradman tops the list for most double centuries in Test cricket: Know the other players

Former Australia captain Don Bradman has scored the most double centuries in Test cricket. The legendary batter hit a whopping 12 double centuries in the format and is also one of just four players to have made two triple centuries in Tests.

Bradman, who made his Test debut in November 1928 scored a total of 29 centuries in cricket’s longest format during his stellar career but it wasn’t until June 1930 that he scored his first-ever double hundred. 

During the second Test of Australia’s tour of England, the former Australia captain scored 254 off 376 balls as the tourists posted 729/6d in the first innings. Thanks to his innings, the Aussies won the match by seven wickets.

The following Test saw the best of Bradman as he went on to post his career-best score of 334 in a match that was eventually drawn. Between August 1930 to January 1932, Bradman hit three centuries and four double centuries. 

In the fourth Test of South Africa’s tour of Australia in 1932, the batting legend missed out on a triple century by a single run despite remaining not out as Australia were bowled out for 513.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has scored the second-most double centuries in Test cricket. During his career that spanned from 2000 to 2015, the southpaw hit 11 double tons and also scored a triple century (319) against Bangladesh.

Brain Lara, who has scored the highest individual Test score, follows Sangakkara with nine double centuries in Tests. The likes of Willy Hammond, Virat Kohli and Mahela Jayawardene have scored the joint fourth-most double centuries in Tests (7). Virat, in fact, is the only active player to have scored more than five double centuries in cricket’s longest format.

Among active players, Joe Root and Kane Williamson follow Kohli with five double centuries and are ahead of Steve Smith (4), David Warner (3), Mushfiqur Rahim (3), Cheteshwar Pujara (3) and Azhar Ali (3).

Most double centuries in Test

(*) Active cricketer

Featured photo: Alamy