5 fastest Triple Centuries in Test Cricket

When Karun Nair scored his maiden century, Michael Atherton on air commented about how it is the culmination of years of practice and hard work as you dream about scoring a Test ton. Little did Nair know, or anyone else for that matter, how his century would be dwarfed by his eventual score as he broke record after record in a Test match that also witnessed India scoring its highest ever Test total.

Nair waltzed into the record books becoming only the second Indian triple centurion after Virender Sehwag, who scored two of these monster tons. Nair also registered the third highest maiden hundred, his 303 standing behind Garry Sobers’ 365* and RB Simpson’s 311. Nair also became the sixth youngest Test triple centurion and he managed all of this in only his third Test, after finding a spot on the team only because multiple players were ruled out due to injuries.

However, amidst all this, it is important to not lose focus on something else that was sensational about Nair’s triple century. Of the thirty triple centuries in Test history, we have information on 27 knocks about the number of balls taken to reach the landmark. Nair’s is, phenomenally for such a young cricketer, the fourth fastest triple century. Here we take a look at the top 5 fastest triple centuries in terms of balls.

#1 Virender Sehwag – 278 balls, 2008, Chennai

Virender Sehwag redefined batting in his own style

This innings will also be remembered for being the only 300-plus score in Test history that ended on a strike-rate higher than 100. Sehwag’s 319 of 304 balls, studded with 42 fours and 5 sixes in Chennai against South Africa boasted of a strike-rate of 104.93. Even more fascinating is the fact that he scored his triple ton under pressure after South Africa had posted a mammoth 540.

Sehwag’s triple ton came against a bowling attack that had Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis. The second highest score behind Sehwag’s triple ton in the innings was Rahul Dravid’s 111 and the third highest was only 39, showing the importance of Sehwag’s massive innings. India managed to escape with a draw despite conceding in excess of 500 in the South African first innings.

#2 Matthew Hayden – 362 balls, 2003, Perth

Matthew Hayden broke Brian Lara’s then standing record in Grand fashion

Matthew Hayden briefly held the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket scoring 380 in just 437 balls against Zimbabwe in Perth. His innings sparkled with 38 fours and 11 sixes as Australia piled on a colossal 735 for 6 declared against a hapless Zimbabwe attack. Adam Gilchrist scored a blistering century too at the other end. Australia eventually won the match by an innings and 175 runs. The completed Hayden innings boasted of a strike-rate of 86.95.

It was the fastest triple ton at that time before Sehwag broke it by a country mile.

#3 Virender Sehwag – 364 balls, 2004, Multan

Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to hit a tripple ton

Against arch-rivals Pakistan, in their own den, Sehwag scored a scorching triple ton, his first. The Multan match is infamous for Dravid’s declaration when Sachin was on 194*. Sehwag’s 309 came at a strike-rate of 82.40 and included 39 fours and 6 sixes. The other highlight of the innings was Sehwag’s partnership with Sachin of 336 runs against a bowling attack that included Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Saqlain Mushtaq.

The triple ton was also special for the nonchalance with which Sehwag smacked Saqlain for a six when on 295*, despite there being multiple fielders on the boundary line. India eventually won the match by an innings and 52 runs after posting 675 in just 161.5 overs.

#4 Karun Nair – 381 balls, 2016, Chennai

Karun Nair 300

Nair’s triple ton is only one of four triple centuries scored by a batsman batting at No.5 or below. Nair has Don Bradman, Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum for company. His 303* against England at Chennai came off 381 balls at a strike-rate of 79.52 with 32 fours and 4 sixes, emphasizing his phenomenal fitness that saw him run a lot of singles, twos and threes. Also incredible is the fact that Nair scored 232 runs in one day.

He reached his century from 185 balls. Nair reached the double ton in 306 balls and for the last 102 runs, he took just 76 balls, in which he hit 10 fours and 3 sixes, literally toying with the England bowling on a fourth-day pitch which to his good fortune, was still well-behaved.

#5 Chris Gayle – 393 balls, 2010, Galle

Gayle was at his blistering best at Galle

Gayle, with this triple, became only the fourth Test cricketer to make two triples. His triple ton came with a boundary off Ajantha Mendis in the 393^rd delivery that he faced. Gayle’s 333, which later became his jersey number came off 437 balls at a strike-rate of 76.20.

Although West Indies managed to score 580, the match ended in a draw. Gayle’s 333 had 34 fours and 9 sixes. It is also the fifth-highest score by a batsman away from home, just four runs short of Hanif Mohammad’s 337, the highest score by a batsman away from home.