WHAT IS common between Mahela Jayawardene, Virender Sehwag, Younis Khan and Chris Gayle? They are the most recent players in the history of Test cricket to score triple centuries. The latest to enter the exclusive list is Michael Clarke, who scored his maiden triple century, at SCG against India. He tore apart the Indian attack by remaining unbeaten on 329 runs.

 

In the history of Test cricket, a total of 25 triple centuries have been scored. The first one was scored by an English batsman, Andy Sandham, against West Indies on April, 1930. It was during the same year, the best batsmen in the game, Sir Donald Bradman scored a triple century against England. After that, many players achieved this feat.

 

Aussies have scored the most number of Triple Test centuries, which has totalled to 7 after Clarke’s heroics today at SCG. India, which has a history of producing great players, has only one player, Virender Sehwag, who has scored a triple century, twice. It is after a gap of 14 months that a Test cricketer has scored a triple century, as the last one was scored by Chris Gayle on November 2010, at Galle International Stadium.

 

It is one of the biggest feats that a batsman can ever achieve. It takes a lot of concentration, temperament, skills, shots, technique to reach the magical three figure mark (300 runs). So, when Clarke scored his triple century early today, his celebrations on the pitch said it all, as he threw the bat on the ground and punched the air in excitement. It was more special for Clarke, as he achieved the feat as the skipper of the Australian side. He is also aware of the fact that he might never get a chance to repeat this performance. But, if he does, he will be creating another record, as Sir Donald Bradman is the only other Australian player to score triple centuries on two different occasions.