There’s a saying in cricket: “Form is temporary, but class is permanent.”
But a few particular players keep their form over an extended period. Virat Kohli, since 2014, has been keeping on denying the above saying by piling up runs in all three formats year on year.
In Test cricket, if you look at what Mohammad Yousuf did in the year 2006, that’s a classic example of how one’s extended form can bring in huge numbers to their tally.
So does Michael Clarke in 2012. The former Australian captain’s form with the bat was incredible throughout that year. Clarke scored four double centuries in 2012, which is still the record for Most Test double centuries scored by any batsman in a calendar year.
Indian captain Virat scored three double centuries each in 2016 and 2017 – the first to score three double centuries in two consecutive years. He added one more to his name later in 2019, raising his double century numbers to seven in Test cricket, the highest for India. Here is a master blog on Test double centuries, where you can see country-wise double hundreds’ contributions.
For now, let’s see who scored the maximum double centuries in Test cricket inside a calendar year, over the years.
Most Test Double Centuries in a Calendar Year
| Player | 200s | Year | Innings | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Clarke (AUS) | 4 | 2012 | 18 | 329* |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 3 | 2016 | 18 | 235 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 3 | 2017 | 16 | 243 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 3 | 2003 | 18 | 257 |
| Don Bradman (AUS) | 3 | 1930 | 8 | 334 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 3 | 2014 | 16 | 302 |
Let us now see the double hundreds scored by these batsmen in those special years, one by one.
Michael Clarke 200+ Scores in 2012
| RUNS | MONTH | AGAINST | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 329* | January 2012 | India | Sydney |
| 210 | January 2012 | India | Adelaide |
| 259* | November 2012 | South Africa | Brisbane |
| 230 | November 2012 | South Africa | Adelaide |
Virat Kohli 200+ Scores in 2016 and 2017
| RUNS | MONTH | AGAINST | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | July 2016 | West Indies | Antigua and Barbuda |
| 211 | October 2016 | New Zealand | Indore |
| 235 | December 2016 | England | Mumbai |
| 204 | February 2017 | Bangladesh | Hyderabad |
| 213 | November 2017 | Sri Lanka | Vidharbha |
| 243 | December 2017 | Sri Lanka | Delhi |
Don Bradman 200+ scores in 1930
| RUNS | MONTH | AGAINST | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | June 1930 | England | Lord’s |
| 334 | July 1930 | England | Headingley |
| 232 | August 1930 | England | Kennington Oval |
All these 200s of Don Bradman came in a single Test Series, which is still the record for the most double centuries scored by a batsman in a single Test series. The tally of 974 runs scored by Bradman in that series is also the highest ever aggregate score by a batsman in a five-match Test series. One of Bradman’s insane cricketing records.
Ricky Ponting 200+ scores in 2003
| RUNS | MONTH | AGAINST | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 206 | April 2003 | West Indies | Port of Spain |
| 242 | December 2003 | India | Adelaide |
| 257 | December 2003 | India | Melbourne |
Brendon McCullum 200+ Scores in 2014
| RUNS | MONTH | AGAINST | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | February 2014 | India | Auckland |
| 302 | February 2014 | India | Wellington |
| 202 | November 2014 | Pakistan | Sharjah |
Brendon McCullum scored another 195 in December of that same year against Sri Lanka, almost equalling Michael Clarke’s feat.
To Sum up
Mohammad Yousuf, in 2006, got out between the scores of 190-199 three times, along with his lone double century that year. He also had a 173 score in the nine centuries that he scored that year. He could have easily been in this table if he had converted two of his nervous 190s into 200s.
Marcus Trescothick of England is another player who came close to this list. Even though he didn’t score a single 200+ score in 2005, he made four 150+ scores in Test cricket that year, including two 190+ scores and a well-made 180 at the Wanderers against South Africa.
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