Test Cricket – The format remains at the pinnacle of other formats in cricket when it comes to judge the calibre of cricketer. Apart from the limited overs cricket records the player's abilities to adapt the tough conditions in red-ball cricket sets him apart from others in the league. Either batting or bowling in red-ball cricket it is the most difficult task for a player who has played the game in whites for their nation.
The batting seems to be the most difficult job in test cricket against the pace and the spin bowlers who have used different variations to confuse the batsman to score runs in any conditions. While there are very few batsmen in the history of cricket who have excelled in the sport and score runs in elegant ways. Having said, let us take a look at the top five cricketers with most triple hundreds in test cricket.
Brian Lara (West Indies) –
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 50s | 100s | 300s |
131 | 232 | 11953 | 52.89 | 400* | 48 | 34 | 2 |
The most stylish and one of the best left-handed batsman in the history of Test Cricket. The former West Indies Captain and the last best batsman produced by West Indies Cricket across the formats. When class meets timing it has produced the unstoppable force known as Brian Lara. An Entertainer would be the better term to rate the flamboyant batting of Brian Lara and to watch on the loop. One of the greatest batsman of the modern-day era who will go down in the history of cricket alongside Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting as a Once-In-a-lifetime-player.
A century, a double century, a triple century and a quadruple century if you think why not Brian Lara don't hold the record of five-hundred plus runs in test cricket then in his first-class cricket Brian Lara also holds the record of five-hundred plus runs in a match. He is only the batsman in the history of cricket to achieve this feat.
Don Bradman (Australia) –
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 50s | 100s | 300s |
52 | 80 | 6996 | 99.94 | 334* | 13 | 29 | 2 |
Nicknamed “Braddles". The record book in himself was Don Bradman. The most successful captain (as Australia never lost the test series under his captaincy) and the complete batsman in the cricket history ever. Bradman had two triple hundreds but it could've been three if he completed his unbeaten knock of 299* against South Africa in 1932 at Adelaide.
But he was the only batsman in cricket history to achieve the feat of three scores of 299 plus on three different occasions. Bradman also holds the record of 100 runs in 3 overs when there were 8-ball overs in test cricket. In a match against Lithgow, Bradman had opened the innings for blackheath had scored 256 runs in that match which featured 14 Sixes and 29 fours.
Virender Sehwag (India) –
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 50s | 100s | 300s |
104 | 180 | 8586 | 49.34 | 319* | 32 | 23 | 2 |
An entertainer played in a Wrong Era. The “trendsetter” would be right term to describe this fearless batting talent. The most destructive opening batsman in the first hour of cricket the world cricket has ever witnessed. Fearless cricket was the only approach of this batsman throughout his career.
Sehwag was the player of limited overs cricket only with his absurd batting technique reckoned by critics but he answered back to revolutionised the role of an opening batsman with two triple tons and many records under his name in red-ball cricket. Some of the most lethal bowling pairs and Virender Sehwag has destroyed the line and length of the bowlers with his flamboyant batting.
Chris Gayle (West Indies) –
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 50s | 100s | 300s |
103 | 182 | 7214 | 42.19 | 333* | 37 | 15 | 2 |
One of the most destructive opening batsmen for West Indies Cricket in the limited overs cricket. Chris Gayle was criticised for an unorthodox batting approach in test cricket but his records back his case in red-ball cricket. Two triple hundreds and average over 40 easily defines his batting abilities.
Another opener in the list who has scored runs in a fearless batting approach. Chris Gayle is only player in the history of cricket to hold the record of hitting 6 fours in an over in 6 balls of test cricket in 2004 against England bowler Mathew Hoggard.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) –
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 50s | 100s | 300s |
134 | 233 | 12400 | 57.41 | 319* | 52 | 38 | 1 |
The former Sri Lanka Captain and Wicket-keeper batsman was the finest player to have ever grace the game of cricket. The most complete player in the history of cricket would be the right term to describe this great talent. His batting average is by far the highest among any batsman who have played red-ball cricket.
Either front foot or back foot this man has the sheer greatness to play any shot with the touch of perfection against pace or spin. What’s other thing that separated him from others was his abilities to play long hour innings. Kumar Sangarkara was the most dependable batsman in the golden era of Sri Lanka Cricket History.
Must Read | Top 5 Most Successful Captains In Test Cricket
