International Teams With Most Individual Triple Centuries In Test Cricket History

Smashing a century in Test cricket is a big honour, more so when a player is representing his nation on the international arena. But, to hit a triple century, is a different achievement altogether. In the history of Test cricket, there have been many batsmen who have hit triple hundreds.

Then, there are batsmen such as Sir Donald Bradman, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle, who have achieved this illustrious feat multiple times, each of them scored a triple century in Test cricket twice.

Obviously, it’s a big honour for a player to hit a triple ton. However, do you know that the most number of players who have hit triple centuries are from Australia.

Seven, to be exact, eight if you include Bradman’s two triple tons. But how do other countries rack up on this regard?

Here is a list of international teams ranked based on most individual triple centuries in Test cricket history:

8) South Africa

In Test cricket history, the only South African player to hit a triple century is Hashim Amla. Playing against England at the Oval in July 2012, Amla achieved the historic feat by scoring 311* runs in 529 balls.

An interesting thing here is that the 36-year-old’s innings was laced with 35 boundaries and he did not hit not even a single six. Courtesy of Amla’s innings, the Proteas scored 637 runs, in reply of England’s 385.

The home failed in their second innings, folded for just 240 runs, handing South Africa a mammoth win of an inning and 12 runs, which was made possible by Amla’s magnificent 311 run inning.

7) New Zealand

Similar to South Africa, there’s just one New Zealand player in the history of Test cricket who has scored a triple ton, and that man is Brendon McCullum. The former Kiwis skipper scored 302 runs, in 559 balls against India, at Wellington in February 2014.

The hosts batting first could muster up a total of just 192 runs, and India, in reply, scored a humongous 438 runs, courtesy of Ajinkya Rahane’s century.

In the second inning, McCullum’s side stormed to a total of 680 runs, as the captain himself scored 302 in his inning that included 32 boundaries and four sixes. In the end, though, India were able to pull off a draw, but the match will always be remembered for McCullum’s stunning knock.

6) Sri Lanka

In Test cricket history three Sri Lankan batsmen have scored a triple ton each. The first-ever batsman from Sri Lanka to score a triple century was Sanath Jayasuriya, who achieved this feat versus India in August 1997. He scored 340 runs off 578 balls, including 36 boundaries and two sixes.

Then in July 2006, Mahela Jayawardene became the second Lanka batsman to score a triple ton. The 42-year-old player turned coach had scored 374 runs in 572 balls, his innings featuring a mind-boggling 43 boundaries and one six.

Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara was the last batsman from the nation to hit a triple century, in 2014, against Bangladesh. Sangakkara scored 319 runs off 482 balls, courtesy of 32 boundaries and eight biggies.

5) India

For the Men in Blue, only two batsmen have been able to score triple centuries in Tests. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag did it twice, in 2004 and 2008. Later, Karun Nair scored 303* runs in 2016, to join the former in the triple ton club.

Sehwag became the first Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket when he hit 309 runs in 375 balls versus Pakistan in April 2004, at Multan.

Later, he joined the illustrious club of players to hit two triple centuries, when he marched to a total of 319 runs against S0uth Africa at Chennai in March 2008.

Nair, meanwhile, scored his maiden triple ton against England, in December 2016. The 28-year-old helped India win by an inning and 17 runs, courtesy of his brilliant 303* run knock.

4) Pakistan

India’s traditional rivals Pakistan have produced four players who each scored triple centuries in Tests. The first player to reach this milestone was Hanif Mohammad, who scored 337 runs on January 1958, to become the first Asian player to hit a triple ton.

Then, Inzamam-Ul-Haq scored 329 runs off 436 balls versus New Zealand in May 2002. Later, in Feb 2009 Younis Khan hit 313 runs off 568 balls against Sri Lanka to join the league of legends.

In October 2016, Azhar Ali became the latest Pakistani entrant into this list, courtesy of his 302 run inning versus the West Indies.

3) England

The country that is credited to have developed the gentleman’s game has given the world five different triple centuries. The first-ever batsman to score a triple ton in Test cricket history was an Englishman named Andy Sandham, who scored 325 runs in April 1930.

Three years later, in March 1933, Wally Hammond became only the third batsman overall to score a triple century in Test cricket, and the second English player to do so. Then, in August 1938, England got their third triple centurion, Len Hutton, who hit 364 runs.

John Edrich became the fourth Englishman to score a triple ton, after playing an inning of 310* in July 1965. The last ever England player to score a triple century was Graham Gooch, whose knock of 333 runs, came in July 1990.

2) West Indies

The team that struggles to play Test cricket nowadays, ironically stands at second in this list, courtesy of their golden generation of the past. The first-ever West Indies player to score a triple ton was Garfield Sobers who scored 365* runs in February 1958. Lawrence Rowe hit 302 runs in March 1974, to join Sobers in the illustrious list.

Later in April 1994, Brain Lara achieved his first triple ton by scoring 375 runs versus England. The legendary player would go on to play a monumental inning of 400* against England itself, in April 2004, a record that stands till date.

Then, in 2005, the man who is lovingly called ‘the universal boss’, Chris Gayle scored his first triple century in April 2005, when he helped demolished South Africa by hitting 317 runs. Just five years later, Gayle scored his second triple ton an inning of 333 runs, in November 2010, versus Sri Lanka.

1) Australia

Australia have given the world seven different triple centurions as well as Sir Don Bradman who hit two triple tons in his career. He became the first Australian to achieve this feat, second batsman overall in the history of cricket, in July 1930 after hitting 334 runs.

The late legend later hit another triple ton, an inning of 304 runs, in July 1934. Later, Bob Simpson scored 311 in July 1964, Bob Cowper scored 307 runs in February 1966 and Mark Taylor hit 334* runs in October 1998 before the turn of the century.

Mathew Hayden joined the league of legends post the start of 20th century when he hit 380 runs in October 2003 against Zimbabwe.

After him, Michael Clarke achieved the historic triple century mark in January 2012, after scoring 329* versus India at Sydney.

In November 2019, David Warner became the last Aussie player to hit a triple century, when he scored 335* against Pakistan at Adelaide.