Top 10 Batsman with Most Double Hundreds in Test

Scoring multiple double hundreds is a testament to a player's unparalleled skill, technique and endurance. Test cricket's extended duration demands enduring focus, concentration, and physical stamina. Facing quality bowling attacks on diverse pitches, often under challenging conditions, requires exceptional skill.

Australia's Don Bradman, a batsman in a league of his own, has scored the most double-hundreds in Test cricket. Take a look at the full list.

1. Don Bradman - 12

Sir Don Bradman, the iconic Australian batsman, boasts the record for the highest number of double centuries in Test Cricket, having notched an impressive 12 during his illustrious career of 80 innings. There are 29 Don Bradman centuries in Test cricket. He also holds the record for the most double centuries in a series (3) which came in 1930.

With a staggering Test average of 99.94, Bradman was and continues to remain in a league of his own. His ability to consistently convert opportunities into monumental scores was remarkable.

Wisden described Bradman as "the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games". Bradman retired from cricket in 1948 and passed away in 2001. 

2. Kumar Sangakkara - 11

Second on the list is former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara with 11 double-centuries. Sangakkara made his debut for the Sri Lankan national team in 2000, embarking on a prolific international career that spanned nearly 15 years. Sangakkara was at the top of his game in each format, achieving success as a T20 World Cup champion and two-time Cricket World Cup runner-up.

He is the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in Tests, having scored 12,400 runs in 233 innings at an average of 57.40. Sangakkara is also the top run-scorer for his country in the ODI format. 

3. Brian Lara - 9

One of the greatest batsmen ever, Brian Lara scored nine double centuries and 34 centuries in 232 innings. As a captain, he scored five double-centuries, which is the most by anyone at the helm of a Test team. Lara's illustrious career spanned from 1990 to 2007. He captained the West Indies from 1998 to 1999.

He holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket, a phenomenal 400 not out, achieved against England in 2004. Lara also holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with an innings of 501 not out. The batsman officially retired from international cricket in 2007 after scoring 11,953 Test runs at an average of 52.88.

4. Wally Hammond - 7

In 140 Test innings for England from 1927 to 1947, Wally Hammond scored seven double centuries. Born on June 19, 1903, Hammond's illustrious career spanned from 1920 to 1951. He held the record for the highest individual Test score—an astonishing 336 not out against New Zealand in 1933, a record that stood for five years.

In 85 Test matches, he notched 7,249 runs and claimed 83 wickets. Leading England in 20 Tests, he secured four victories, suffered three losses, and settled for draws in 13. He died of a heart attack in 1965.

5. Virat Kohli - 7

India's Virat Kohli has scored the highest number of double-centuries in Test cricket among active players. In 187 innings, Kohli has scored 8676 runs at an average of 49.29, including seven double centuries.

The fastest batsman in the world to reach 70 international centuries, Kohli is also statistically one of the most successful Test captains. Securing 40 victories, he outshines MS Dhoni by 13 wins. Among international captains, only Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh have notched more Test wins than Kohli.

6. Mahela Jayawardene - 7

Like Hammond and Kohli, Mahela Jayawardene also scored seven double-centuries in Test cricket. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in Tests by a Sri Lankan, with his monumental 374 against South Africa in 2006. Along with Sangakkara, he also holds the record for the highest partnership in Test cricket, putting together a remarkable 624-run stand against South Africa in the same 2006 match where Jayawardene scored his 374.

Jayawardene made his Test debut against India in 1997, and over the years, he became one of Sri Lanka's most reliable batsmen. In total, he played 149 Test matches, accumulating 11,814 runs at an impressive average of 49.84.

7. Marvan Atapattu - 6

Another Sri Lankan batsman on the list is Marvan Atapattu, who scored six double-centuries from 156 innings. One of his most memorable performances came in 2001 against Zimbabwe, where he scored a monumental 249 not out. Atapattu scored five ducks in his first six Test innings, but from there on, his game kept getting better. He was also the fourth player to score hundreds against all nine Test opponents.

In 2007, Atapattu called curtains on his career after finishing with 5,502 Test runs at an average of 39.02 in 90 Tests. He also led the Sri Lankan team which won the 2004 Asia Cup.

8. Kane Williamson - 6

Kane Williamson has scored six double centuries in Test cricket from 164 innings. Since making his Test debut against India in Ahmedabad in 2010, Williamson has played 94 Test matches, from which he has scored 8124 runs at an average of 54.89. This includes 28 centuries.

He is also one of New Zealand's best Test captains, winning 22 of 40 matches, settling for eight draws and suffering just 10 losses. In the 65 innings he played as captain, Williamson averaged an impressive 57.43. One of his most remarkable achievements as captain of the Test team was leading the side to a win in the inaugural World Test championship.

9. Virender Sehwag - 6

Virender Sehwag scored six double-centuries from 180 innings. His Test career spanned from 2001 to 2013, featuring 104 matches where he compiled 8,586 runs at an impressive average of 49.34.

Sehwag's hallmark was his ability to dominate bowlers from the onset, setting the tone for the innings with explosive stroke play. He was the first Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket, achieving the feat against Pakistan in Multan in 2004. The batsman announced his retirement from international cricket on October 20, 2015.