Fastest Test double hundreds: Astle, Stokes, Sehwag and McCullum in top five

From Nathan Astle to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, here’s a look at the fastest double centuries in Test cricket.

25 February, 2023 01:14 IST

England Test skipper Ben Stokes slammed the second-fastest Test double hundred in 2016. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Test cricket has witnessed several innings of spellbinding strokemaking over the years.

Swashbuckling batters have redefined Test match batting over the years with massive centuries and double centuries in quickfire time.

Nathan Astle of New Zealand holds the record for the fastest double-century in Test cricket. The former Kiwi batter took only 153 balls to reach the mark against England in 2002 at Christchurch.

England captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes is second on the list with a 163-ball double hundred against South Africa in 2016 in Cape Town.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag is ranked third on the list with a 168-ball 200 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009. Sehwag, who has twin triple tons, also holds a 182-ball double hundred to his name.

FASTEST TEST DOUBLE CENTURIES

Balls	Players	Team	Opponent	Location	Year
153	Nathan Astle	New Zealand	England	Christchurch	2002
163	Ben Stokes	England	South Africa	Cape Town	2016
168	Virender Sehwag	India	Sri Lanka	Mumbai	2009
182	Virender Sehwag	India	Pakistan	Lahore	2006
186	Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	Pakistan	Sharjah	2014