3 famous Test triple hundreds by openers

#3 Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya

A few years before Sehwag hammered Pakistan, Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya dished out similar treatment to the Indians. India batted first and posted an impressive 537 for 8 declared in the first Test at Colombo in 1997, thanks to centuries from Navjot Sidhu, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. However, they had no inkling of what was to hit them.

Jayasuriya tormented the Indian bowlers, single-handedly hitting 340 from 578 balls. His amazing wrists were at play as he slashed his way to a memorable triple hundred. Jayasuriya occupied the crease for 799 minutes, and his stay saw him hitting 36 fours and two sixes. During the course of his innings, Jayasuriya featured in a mammoth 576-run partnership with Roshan Mahanama, then a record for the highest ever partnership in Tests.

Aravinda de Silva also helped himself to a hundred while Arjuna Ranatunga and Mahela Jayawardene hit half-centuries as Sri Lanka continued to torture the Indians en route to posting an improbable 952 for 6 declared. This remains the highest team score in a Test till date.

As the match meandered to a draw, Indian bowlers, especially the spinners, finished with forgettable figures -- Rajesh Chauhan (1 for 276), Kumble (1 for 223), Nilesh Kulkarni (1 for 195). It is a game Indian cricket fans would not want to remember.