List of Test cricket triple centuries

This list of Test cricket triple centuries shows all instances where a batsman has scored 300 runs or more in a single innings in Test cricket, a feat achieved on 22 occasions by 19 different batsmen from six of the ten Test-cricket playing nations. No player from Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa or Zimbabwe has ever scored 300, although Martin Crowe of New Zealand was once dismissed for 299 in a match against Sri Lanka in 1991.

The first Test triple century was achieved by Andy Sandham of England against West Indies in 1930 in the first Test series hosted in the West Indies. The most recent (as of March 29, 2008) Test triple century was scored by Virender Sehwag of India against South Africa in March 2008. The frequency of a batsman scoring a Test triple century is slightly less than that of a bowler taking a Test hat-trick (22 triple centuries versus 36 hat-tricks as of March 2008).

Brian Lara of the West Indies, Donald Bradman of Australia and Virender Sehwag of India are the only batsmen to reach 300 more than once. Bradman also scored 299 not out against South Africa in 1932, being left stranded after the no.11 batman, Pud Thurlow was run out for 0.

Lara's 400 not out against England in 2004, his second Test triple-century, is the highest score in Test cricket and the only instance of a Test quadruple century.

The quickest Test triple-century was scored in 4 hours 48 minutes, by Wally Hammond for England against New Zealand at Auckland in 1932-33. The fastest Test triple-century by number of balls faced, where that figure is recorded, is Virender Sehwag's 278 ball triple century for India against South Africa in the first Test of the Future Cup in Chennai in 2008.

List of triple centuries

:* denotes that a batsman was "not out"

Notes

# Batting first, he shared stands of 232 with Ramnaresh Sarwan (90) for the third wicket, and 282 with Ridley Jacobs (107*) for the fifth wicket, on the way to a West Indies total of 751 for 5 declared. Despite a century for Andrew Flintoff (102*), England were bowled out for 285 in their first innings and forced to follow on. However, England managed to hold out in their second innings, with a century for Michael Vaughan (140), and the match was drawn.
# Batting first, he shared stands of 207 with Steve Waugh (59) for the fourth wicket and 233 with Adam Gilchrist (113*) for the sixth wicket, on the way to an Australian total of 735 for 6 declared. Hayden scored 105 runs between lunch and tea on the second day. Australia won by an innings and 175 runs.
# Batting first, Lara shared stands of 179 with Jimmy Adams (59) for the third wicket, 183 with Keith Arthurton (47) for the fourth wicket, and 219 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (75*) for the fifth wicket, on the way to a West Indies total of 593 for 5 declared. In reply, England also scored 593, with centuries for Michael Atherton (135) and Robin Smith (175). The match was drawn.
# Batting second, coming in to bat at 14 for two, he shared a partnership of 622 with Kumar Sangakkara (287) for the third wicket, a record for any wicket in first-class cricket. It eclipsed the previous Test partnership record, also held by two Sri Lankans. Jayawardene also shared a stand of 117 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (45). Sri Lanka declared on the fall of Jayawardene's wicket, at 756 for five, a first-innings lead of 587. Sri Lanka won by an innings and 153 runs.
# Batting second, Sobers shared stands of 446 with Conrad Hunte (260) for the second wicket, and 188 unbroken with Clyde Walcott (88*) for the fourth wicket, on the way to a West Indies total of 790 for 3 declared. It was Sobers' first hundred in Test cricket. Pakistan had batted first, scoring 328, including a century for Imtiaz Ahmed (122). Wazir Mohammad scored 106 in Pakistan's second innings, but could not prevent West Indies winning by an innings and 174 runs.
# Batting first, Hutton shared stands of 382 with Maurice Leyland (187) for the second wicket, 135 with Wally Hammond (59) for the third wicket, and 215 with Joe Hardstaff junior (169*) for the sixth wicket, on the way to an England total of 903 for 7 declared, the first time a Test team scored over 900. Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton were both unable to bat in either Australia innings, and England won by an Test record margin of an innings and 579 runs.
# Batting second, he shared a stand of 576 with RS Mahanama (225) for the second wicket, on the way to a Test record total of 952 for 6 declared. Sri-Lanka's second wicket stand was the highest in Test history, was the first in Test cricket over 500 runs, and is the only instance of two batsmen batting throughout two uninterrupted days of a Test match. India had batted first, scoring 537 for 8 declared with centuries from Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. The match was drawn.
# He shared stands of 152 with Imtiaz Ahmed (97) for the first wicket, 112 with Alimuddin (37) for the second wicket, 154 with Saeed Ahmed (65) for the third wicket, and 121 with Wazir Mohammad (35) for the fourth wicket, on the way to a Pakistan score of 657 for 8 declared. Hanif's 970 minute innings is the longest in Test cricket and is the only instance of a Test triple century scored in a team's second innings. Pakistan had followed on, having scored 106 in the first innings in reply to West Indies' 579 for 9 declared, including centuries for Conrad Hunte (142) and Everton Weekes (197). The six-day Test match was drawn.
# Batting second, in a three-day match, Hammond shared a stand of 149 with Eddie Paynter (36) for the third wicket, on the way to an England total of 548 for 7 declared. New Zealand had batted first, scoring 158. Hammond reached 300 in 287 minutes. It has been estimated that he received about 355 balls to get there. Hammond hit 10 sixes in his innings, three off them off consecutive balls from Jack Newman. The third day was affected by rain, and the match was drawn.
# Batting first, Taylor shared stands of 279 with Justin Langer (116) for the second wicket, 123 with Mark Waugh (77) for the third wicket, and an undefeated 168 for the fifth wicket with Ricky Ponting (76*), on the way to an Australian total of 599 for 4 declared. Pakistan hit 580 in reply, including centuries for Saeed Anwar (126) and Ijaz Ahmed (155). Most of the play on the third day was lost, and the match was drawn. Taylor scored 103 runs before lunch on the second day of the match, but it was a three hour session. Taylor also scored 92 in Australia's second innings.
# Bradman came in to bat after Australia had lost Archie Jackson off the eleventh ball of the match. He shared stands of 192 with Bill Woodfull (50) for the second wicket and 229 with Alan Kippax (77) for the third wicket, and helped Australia to a total of 566. Bradman was 105* at lunch, 220* at tea and 309* at the close of the first day's play. It is the only instance in Tests of a batsman scoring 300 in a day. Bradman's 200 in 214 minutes is still the fastest Test double century. England scored 391 in reply, including a century from Wally Hammond (113). Forced to followed on, they salvaged a draw.
# Batting first, Gooch shared stands of 127 with David Gower (40) for the second wicket, 308 with Allan Lamb (139) for the third wicket, and 192 with Robin Smith (100*) for the fourth wicket. England declared on 653 for 4. With centuries from Ravi Shastri (100) and Mohammad Azharuddin (121), and Kapil Dev's four sixes in a row off Eddie Hemmings with the last man in, India saved the follow-on. Graham Gooch hit a second century (123) in England's second innings, and India lost by 247 runs.
# Batting first, Inzamam shared stands of 204 with Imran Nazir (127) for the third wicket and 111 with Saqlain Mushtaq (30) for the seventh wicket. He was last out with the Pakistan score on 643. New Zealand were bowled out for 73, followed on, and were defeated by an innings and 324 runs inside 3 days.
# Batting first, in a timeless Test, Sandham shared stands of 173 with George Gunn (85) for the first wicket, 148 with Bob Wyatt (58) for the second wicket, and 249 with Leslie Ames (149) for the fourth wicket, on the way to an England total of 849. West Indies replied with 286, but England did not enforce the follow-on, setting West Indies a target of 835 to win. After bad weather prevented any play on the match's eighth day, a draw was agreed with West Indies at 408 for 5, George Headley having scored 223. It was the first triple hundred in Tests. Sandham was 39 years and 275 days old, and playing his last Test match: he is Test cricket's oldest triple-centurion.
# Batting second, Sehwag shared stands of 213 with Wasim Jaffer (74) for the first wicket and 268 with Rahul Dravid (111) for the second wicket on the way to an India total of 627. Sehwag reached his second triple-ton off only 278 balls, the fastest triple century in Test cricket, and his innings lasted 304 balls in total.
# Batting second, Gayle shared stands of 341 with Ramnaresh Sarwan (127) for the second wicket and 149 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (also 127) for the fourth wicket, on the way to a West Indies total of 747; Dwayne Bravo (107) also scored a century. South Africa had batted first, scoring 588, with four batsmen scoring centuries (Abraham de Villiers (114), Graeme Smith (126), Jacques Kallis (147) and Ashwell Prince (131)) making a record eight centuries in the Test. The match was drawn.
# Batting first, Simpson shared stands of 201 with Bill Lawry (106) for the first wicket and 219 with Brian Booth (98) for the fifth wicket, on the way to an Australian total of 656 for 8 declared. Ken Barrington (256) and Ted Dexter (174) ensured that the match was drawn, England also scoring more than 600.
# Batting first, Edrich shared stands of 369 with Ken Barrington (163) for the second wicket and 109 with Peter Parfitt (32) for the fourth wicket, on the way to an England total of 546 for 4 declared. England won by an innings and 187 runs. Edrich hit a Test record 52 boundaries in addition to five sixes in his innings.
# Batting first, Sehwag shared stands of 160 with Akash Chopra (42) for the first wicket and 336 with Sachin Tendulkar (194*) for the third wicket, on the way to an Indian total of 675 for 5 declared. India won by an innings and 52 runs, despite Yousuf Youhana scoring 117 in Pakistan's second innings (following on). It is the only Test triple hundred reached with a six.
# Batting second, Cowper shared stands of 212 with Bill Lawry (108) for the third wicket and 172 for the fourth wicket with Doug Walters (60) on the way to a total of 543 for 8 declared. England had batted first, scoring 485 including a century for Ken Barrington (115). The match was drawn. A wet outfield meant that Cowper's innings included only 20 fours but 26 "threes".
# Batting second, Bradman shared a stand of 388 with Bill Ponsford (181) for the fourth wicket on the way to an Australian total of 584, in reply to England's 200 all out. Bradman came in to join Ponsford after Australia had lost their first three wickets for 39. This is the only Test triple century made by a player batting at 5 in the order. England salvaged a draw.
# Batting second, Rowe shared stands of 126 with Roy Fredericks (32) for the first wicket and 249 with Alvin Kallicharran (119) for the second wicket, on the way to a West Indies total of 596. England had batted first, scoring 395 including a century for Tony Greig (148). Keith Fletcher scored 129* in England's second innings and the match was drawn.

References

*"Wisden Cricketers' Almanack"
* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_HIGH_INNS_SCORES.html Highest Individual Test Scores] (from Cricinfo)
* [http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2004/mar/29stats1.htm Triple-centurions in Test cricket] (from rediff.com)