Top 5: Youngest Batters to Score a Test Double Century

A lot of players have scored a Test double century. Some took many years to score their first Test double century while some players achieved this feat very early in their Test career. 

In this article, we will talk about the top 5 youngest batters to score a Test double century.

5. Graeme Smith | 21y 259d

Former South African captain Graeme Smith scored a Test double hundred in 2002 when he was 21 years and 259 days old. He became the fifth youngest to score a Test double hundred, surpassing Mahela Jayawardene who achieved this feat in 21 years and 273 days.

While opening the batting against Bangladesh in East London, Smith scored his first Test double hundred. He scored exactly 200 runs from 287 balls, a knock consisting of 25 boundaries.

The left-handed batter and his opening partner Herschelle Gibbs played out the opening spells of Manjural Islam and Tapash Baisya with ease before Gibbs got out in the 20th over to Tapash.

Smith was dismissed in the 85th over of the innings. He didn’t let the spinner Alok Kapali settle and constantly took singles and doubles on the bowling of Mohammad Rafique. South Africa won the match by an innings and 107 runs. 

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4. Gary Sobers | 21y 213d

Former West Indies all-rounder Gary Sobers scored his maiden Test century at the age of 21 years and 213 days which he converted to a double hundred and then to a triple hundred. Sobers achieved this feat in 1958 against Pakistan at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Pakistan, batting first, were bowled out for 328 runs in their first innings. The West Indies, in their first innings, lost the wicket of Rohan Kanhai on 87 runs.

Then came Garry Sober at the crease who stitched a 446 runs partnership with Conrad Hunte. Both the batters scored plenty of runs on the bowling of Khan Mohammad and Fazal Mahmood.

Conrad Hunte was run out for 260 runs while Pakistan tried 9 bowlers to get out Sobers but they all failed to take the wicket of the left-hander, who remained not out on 365 runs.

3. Vinod Kambli | 21y 32d

India’s former left-hand batter Vinod Kambli scored a Test double century at the age of 21 years and 32 days, becoming the youngest Indian to achieve this feat. He left behind Sunil Gavaskar who scored a Test double century at the age of  21 years and 277 days.

Kambli achieved this feat at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while batting against England in 1993. Batting first, England managed to score 347 runs in the first innings and in response, India were off to a great start with the openers Navjot Sidhu and Manoj Prabhakar stitching a hundred-run opening stand.

Kambli batting at number 3 scored 224 runs from 411 balls. His innings consisted of 23 boundaries. India won the match by an innings and 15 runs.

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2. George Headley | 20y 308d

Former West Indies batter George Headley scored a Test double hundred when he was 20 years and 308 days old.

In 1930, in a Test against England at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, George Headly scored the double hundred in the fourth innings, when West Indies were given a target of 836 runs. The match ended in a draw.

England, batting first, posted 849 runs with Andy Sandham scoring a triple century. The West Indies, in the second innings, were bowled out for 286 runs and in the fourth innings, they managed the draw thanks to George Headly’s resistance. He played a total of 385 balls to score his 223 runs.

1. Javed Miandad | 19y 140d

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad is the youngest batter in the history of Test cricket to score a Test double century. He achieved this feat against New Zealand in 1976, breaking the record of George Headly.

Pakistan, batting first, posted 565 runs with Javed’s double ton who didn’t let Lance Cairns and David O’Sullivan settle a bit. However, the match ended in a draw as New Zealand saved the match on day 5.

Miandad played a total of 124 Tests for Pakistan, scoring 8832 runs at an average of 52, including 23 centuries and 6 double hundreds.