The journey to 100 Test matches is a monumental feat. It signifies a career of immense dedication and skill. To score a century in it is a dream. But to go further and register a double century is a feat so rare it has only been accomplished by two players in the game’s history. It’s an incredible “Amazing Cricket Fact.”
The First to Do It – Joe Root’s Masterclass in Chennai
The first cricketer to join this exclusive club was England’s maestro, Joe Root. The stage was Chennai in the first Test against India in February 2021. It was Root’s 100th Test, and he was in incredible form.
He walked in with the score at 63/2. His innings was a study in patience and impeccable technique. He used his feet expertly against the spinners and showed remarkable command against the Indian pace attack.
He reached his hundred with a powerful cut shot. But he didn’t stop there. He batted for over nine hours, with his final score of 218 coming off 377 balls. This marathon innings, that added to his list of six Test double centuries, included 19 fours and 2 sixes. Root’s masterpiece was a foundation for England’s commanding win. This is also the highest score by any batter on his 100th Test match.
The Second to Join – David Warner’s Emotional Epic at the MCG
Almost two years later, a second name was added to the list: Australia’s opener, David Warner. The occasion was the iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in December 2022 against South Africa.
Warner had been under significant pressure, having not scored a Test century in nearly three years. From the start, the pressure was palpable. But as he found his rhythm, his characteristic aggression returned.
The hundred came with a powerful flick, sparking an emotional celebration. He fought through cramps and exhaustion to score a double century. The knock was a tribute to his career’s power-hitting. He retired hurt at 200, having scored the runs off just 254 balls.
List of All Amazing Cricket Facts Articles
ACF 1: A Hat Trick in 3 Overs, 2 Innings, and 2 Days
ACF 2: Ashwin’s clean sweep against Australia in 2013
ACF 3: When Kapil Dev hit 4 Sixes in a row to avoid the follow-on!
ACF 4: Anil Kumble vs batsmen at nervous 90s
ACF 5: Mohammad Azharuddin holds the World Record of 3 Consecutive Centuries in First Three Tests
ACF 6: When Jasprit Bumrah scored 35 runs off Stuart Broad’s Over in a Test Match
ACF 7: Glenn McGrath Dismissed 104 Batsmen on a Duck in Tests
ACF 8: Glenn McGrath took Wickets on his Last Balls in Test and T20I
ACF 9: The Timeless Test – The Longest Cricket Match that lasted 12 Days
ACF 10: When Mohammad Sami Bowled the Longest Over in Cricket
ACF 11: When Bangladesh Lost 21 Consecutive Test Matches
ACF 12: When Kumar Sangakkara Scored Four Consecutive Centuries in ODI
ACF 13: When Don Bradman Scored 309 Runs in a Single Day of a Test Match
ACF 14: Graeme Smith Converted First 4 Test Centuries to 150+ Scores
ACF 15: When England Declared their Innings on 0/0!
ACF 16: Picking the First 50 ODI Wickets Within a Year of Debut
ACF-17: The Only 3 Players with a Double of 10000 and 500 Wickets in Cricket
ACF 18: When Pakistan Lost by an Innings After Scoring 500+ Runs
ACF 19: All-Rounders with More-than-one Centuries and Five-wicket Hauls at a Single Venue
ACF 20: India Scored 400-plus Totals in 6 Consecutive Test Innings
ACF 21: 4 Batters Who Scored 10000+ Test Runs in a Particular Batting Position
ACF 22: When Aravinda de Silva Scored 2 Unbeaten Centuries in a Test Match
ACF 23: When Vivian Richards became the fastest player to Score 2000 ODI Runs in Australia
ACF 24: Adam Gilchrist Scored All 16 ODI Centuries in Wins
ACF 25: Highest Partnerships by No. 10 and 11 Batters in Test Cricket
ACF 26: When Australia Won 15 Consecutive Matches in ICC Tournaments
ACF 27: When Mohammad Yousuf made 2006 his own
ACF 28: A Batsman Scoring a Double Century in Their 100th Test Match
The Rarity and Enduring Legacy of the Feat
To truly appreciate this achievement, you have to look at the list of other players who’ve played 100 Tests. It’s a list of cricket’s elite, including Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. Many of them scored a century in their 100th Test, a remarkable achievement in itself. You can check here the list of Indian, English, and Australian cricketers who have achieved the milestone of 100 Test matches.
Yet, none of them could turn that into a double century. This is what makes the double century so special. It speaks of a player’s physical and mental endurance to stay at the crease for hours on end.
Root and Warner’s performances were not just about personal glory. They were innings that dominated the narrative and led their teams to victory. They stand as a timeless reminder that some achievements are truly exceptional.
Check: Most Runs after 100 Test Matches
