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This is one heck of a list. A truly outstanding assortment of some of the most noted and beloved batting talents. One of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket has come via a batting talent that the great Sachin Tendulkar himself admires and deeply so. On the other hand, there’s a fine young Englishman who happens to be one of the prime leaders of the team’s batting order. Then the list comprising some of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket sees a giant of the game, literally speaking, from the cricket frenzied land called Australia. It’s a list, that eschews big run makers such as Lara and Gayle. Not that the greats haven’t made a test career triple, but simply because of the fact that despite their impactful knocks, their test triples lacked the sheer pace of run making that some of the following men batted with. If not interesting enough yet, dive into the list of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket:
Here is a list of fastest triple centuries in test cricket history:
1. Virender Sehwag (IND) - 278 balls vs South Africa
The second time that he ever produced a triple hundred, Virender Sehwag ensured it would be a mighty knock of magnanimous significance. How? Well, by producing a triple ton off just 278 odd deliveries and hence, the table topper on the list of fastest triple centuries in Test cricket.
A decade and a half ago in India, Sehwag mercilessly mauled the visiting South Africans on his way to scoring a mega 319 off just 304 deliveries. He’d hit 42 fours and 5 sixes and made light work of noted names like Steyn and Ntini.
2. Wiaan Mulder (SA) - 297 balls vs Zimbabwe
One of the most stylish and useful batters in the current Protea set up, Mulder has recently become responsible for producing one heck of a knock, which culminated in one of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket.
The stylish right handed South African reached his triple century off just 297 odd deliveries removing a hapless Zimbabwe completely from any safe position in the game.
3. Harry Brook (ENG) - 310 balls vs Pakistan
Clearly one of the great finds of England cricket, Harry Brook, fresh from an Edgbaston hundred in which he scored 158 valuable runs, can destroy attacks and that too, with a sense of elegance about his batting.
His greatest Test match batting moment, or a peak of sorts, as one would say, came last year in Pakistan and hence, miles away from the home comfort of batting in familiar English conditions.
In a contest at Multan, usually a high-scoring venue, the technically sound right hander produced 317 vital runs and hence with it, one of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket in that it came off just 310 deliveries.
One of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket saw the formidable Englishman taking Pakistani attack to the cleaners with 29 fours and 3 sixes. Incidentally, Joe Root fired 262 in that very same England innings. The team made 823 collectively.
4. Matthew Hayden (AUS) - 362 balls vs Zimbabwe
Back in the year 2004, Matt Hayden, though not the first Austrian at that time to score a triple century (the likes of Sir Don Bradman and Mark Taylor having done it before) , did an act so brutal with the bat that it resulted in one of the fastest triple centuries in Test cricket.
At Perth, during 2003, the left hander fired 380 Test runs in a single inning of his own thus taking Australia to an imposing 735 run total. Such a towering score hadn’t preciously been achieved by any Aussie, nor has anyone since Haydos’ giant knock bettered it. In terms of sheer impact, the 380 v Zimbabwe was a brutal result of one man’s intent at destroying a bowling line up.
5. Virender Sehwag (IND) - 364 balls vs Pakistan
One of the finest, most easy going and most confident of all Indian batters of all time, Sehwag fired the first of his two triple hundreds against Pakistan. The Multan effort that came in 2004 is still spoken highly of, not only because back then it was the finest triple century score ever hit by an Indian but because of the sheer impact and freeness of run making it produced.
The Najafgarh right hander hit 39 boundaries and 6 sixes in that one incredible knock that helped India attain a victory by an innings and 52 runs. A glorious knock in that on March 28, 2004 Sehwag emerged as the first ever Indian to hit a Test triple and that too, against arch rivals, Pakistan.
Also Read: List of highest individual scores in Test history ft. Wiaan Mulder
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1. What is the fastest triple century in Test cricket history?
The name of Sehwag tops the list in this regard by taking 278 deliveries v South Africa to hit the fastest ever Test triple.
Q2. Who is the youngest player to score a triple century in Tests?
Sir Gary Sobers was just 21 years old and 213 days when he hit his test triple v Pakistan.
Q3. Has any player scored multiple triple-centuries in Test cricket?
There are batters like Virender Sehwag from India and Brian Lara from the West Indies. Great men behind dazzling feats.
