Test cricket is the hardest and longest format of the game, which checks the real strength of a cricketer. Scoring a test hundred is always a special landmark, but converting it into a big one takes a lot of hard work. There have been only 31 batters who have 31 occurrences when a batter has scored 300 or more in an inning.
But there have been some batters who have taken it to another level and played a counterattacking triple century. That’s what we will talk about here in this article. We will discuss the top seven fastest triple centuries in test cricket.
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List of Top 7 Fastest Triple Centuries in Test Cricket
| Player | Balls for 300 | Score | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | 278 | 319 | South Africa | Chennai | 26 Mar 2008 |
| Harry Brook | 310 | 317 | Pakistan | Multan | 07 Oct 2024 |
| Matthew Hayden | 362 | 380 | Zimbabwe | Perth | 09 Oct 2003 |
| Virender Sehwag | 364 | 309 | Pakistan | Multan | 28 Mar 2004 |
| Karun Nair | 381 | 303* | England | Chennai | 16 Dec 2016 |
| David Warner | 389 | 335* | Pakistan | Adelaide | 29 Nov 2019 |
| Chris Gayle | 393 | 333* | Sri Lanka | Galle | 15 Nov 2010 |
7. Chris Gayle (393 balls) vs Sri Lanka
Chris Gayle belongs to the league that has only four batters with two triple centuries in test cricket. His highest test score came against Sri Lanka in November 2010 in Galle. It was a great attacking innings where Gayle scored his triple century in just 393 balls. He played a brilliant innings of 333 runs, which included 34 fours and nine sixes. He helped West Indies declare at 580/9 in 163.2 overs. Sri Lanka got all out for 378 in the first innings and were 341/4 when the game was drawn.
6. David Warner (389 balls) vs Pakistan
David Warner was an attacking opener for Australia, who had a successful career in all three formats. He played many impactful test innings and his highest score came against Pakistan in Adelaide back in November 2019. Warner carried his bat through and scored his triple century off 389 balls. He remained unbeaten on 335 from 418 balls, with 39 boundaries and one maximum to help his team declare at 589/3 in 127 overs. Australia dismissed Pakistan for 302 and 239 and went on to win the game by an innings and 48 runs. Warner won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant performance.
5. Karun Nair (381) vs England
Indian star batter Karun Nair made history when he became only the second Indian batter to register a triple century in test cricket. He had this moment in Chennai against England in 2016. Batting at no. 5, Nair completed this big milestone on 381 balls. He remained unbeaten on 303 runs, which had 32 fours and four sixes. After declaring their innings at 759/7, India dismissed England for 477 and 207 to win the game by an innings and 75 runs.
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4. Virender Sehwag (364 balls) vs Pakistan
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag is known as “Multan ka Sultan” because of his unbelievable innings, he played against archrival Pakistan in March 2004. Sehwag scored his 100 and 200 runs in 107 and 222 balls. Then, he increased his rate and scored his triple century off 364 balls. Sehwag scored 309 off 375 balls in that innings. It was the first time an Indian batter scored a triple hundred. India declared at 675/5 and bowled Pakistan out for 407 and 216 to win by an innings and 52 runs.
3. Matthew Hayden (362 balls) vs Zimbabwe
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden was one of the most destructive openers of all time. He was built strong and loved to attack the opponent. He recorded Australia’s highest individual score in a test in 2003 at Perth Cricket Stadium. It was against Zimbabwe when Hayden smashed a brilliant triple hundred off just 362 balls. He went on to score 380 runs from 437 balls, which included 11 sixes and 38 fours. Australia made 735/6 and declared their innings. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 239 and 321 and lost the game by an innings and 175 runs.
2. Harry Brook (310 balls) vs Pakistan
Scoring a test triple century with a strike rate around 100 is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. And one such moment was caught in a test match between Pakistan and England at Multan Cricket Stadium in 2024. It was Harry Brook who tore apart Pakistani bowlers and smacked a 310-ball triple century. Brook scored 317 off 322 balls at a strike rate of 98.44 and hit 29 fours and three sixes. England posted the fourth-highest total of 823/7 in 150 due to Brook’s onslaught.
1. Virender Sehwag (278 balls) vs South Africa
Virender Sehwag was arguably the best test opener in terms of making an impact, which is why he retired with one of the best strike rates in test cricket. His record of the fastest test triple century might never be broken, which he made against South Africa in Chennai in 2008. Sehwag slammed a 194-ball double century and batted even quick after that. He reached his triple hundred off just 278 balls and became only the fourth batter with two triple centuries in tests. Sehwag made 319 off 304 balls, at a strike rate of 104.93, with five sixes and 32 fours. Both teams batted well, and that match ended in a draw.
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