3 famous Test triple hundreds by openers

Australian opener David Warner entered the record books on Saturday after posting his maiden triple hundred in Test cricket. The left-hander slammed an unbeaten 335 on daay two of the Adelaide Test against Pakistan as the hosts declared their first innings on a mammoth 589 for 3. In response, Pakistan fought back via Yasir Shah's maiden century to post 302 at the end of their first innings.

Warner’s 335 not out is now the highest score in a day-night Test trumping the unbeaten 302 by Pakistan’s Azhar Ali against West Indies at Dubai in 2016. Warner’s knock is also now the highest Test score at the Adelaide Oval. Don Bradman’s 299 was the previous best. The opener’s 335 not out is now the second highest Test score by an Australian after Matthew Hayden's 380 vs Zimbabwe. He went past former captains Bradman and Mark Taylor, both of whom registered highest Test scores of 334.

In terms of quickness, Warner’s triple hundred is the fourth fastest in history, coming off 389 balls. In the wake of Warner’s sensational achievement, we look back at some famous triple hundreds by openers in Test history.

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#1 Sir Len Hutton

Sir Len Hutton

Way back in 1938, England legend Sir Len Hutton, opening the innings, compiled 364 while facing 847 balls in the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval in August that year. England batted first, and Hutton occupied the crease for 797 minutes during which he hit 35 fours. It was a record for the highest Test score until Gary Sobers made 365. Thanks to Hutton’s heroics, England posted a mammoth 903 for 7 declared. Maurice Leyland made 187 and Joe Hardstaff was unbeaten on 169 as England’s batsmen terrorised Aussie bowlers.

Australia managed only 201 and 123 all out as Bradman was absent hurt, resulting in a massive victory for the hosts, who triumphed by an innings and 579 runs.

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag en route to his 309

Which batsman in world cricket can have the audacity to bring up a triple hundred with a six? Virender Sehwag did exactly that en route to becoming the first India to slam a triple century in Test matches. The Nawab of Najafgarh smashed his way to 309 against Pakistan at Multan during the first Test of the memorable 2004 tour. Sehwag brought up his 300 off 364 balls before eventually falling to Mohammad Sami.

The Indian opener blazed his way to 39 fours and six sixes in his innings, which came at a strike rate of 82.40. Sehwag’s brutal assault on Saqlain Mushtaq also signalled the end of the latter’s career as he ended with unremarkable figures of 1 for 204. India captain Rahul Dravid declared on 675 for 5, with Sachin Tendulkar famously stranded on 194 not out. Pakistan responded with 407 in their first innings courtesy Mohammad Yousuf’s 112, but could not avoid the follow on.

Anil Kumble’s 6 for 72 rolled over Pakistan for 216 in their second innings as India won by an innings and 52 runs.

#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.