Scoring a triple-hundred is one of the topmost achievements for a batsman in the five-day format. So far, only 31 times, this has been achieved, and only four cricketers have managed it more than once. A triple-hundred is a stamp on a batter’s endurance, determination, stamina and, of course, batsmanship skills. Interestingly, 13 players have done this after crossing the age of 30. In this article, we take a look at the five oldest players to score a triple century in Test cricket.
5) Mark Taylor (Australia) – 33 years 353 days
Score – 334* || Opposition – Pakistan || Year – 1998 || Venue – Peshawar
A knock that was spread across two entire days, Mark Taylor battled the heat of Peshawar to break multiple records with his 334* run knock in 1998. He became the Australian captain with the highest individual score by the end of this game.
Taylor’s triple-century came up with important partnerships alongside Justin Langer and Mark Waugh. However, being their home ground, Pakistan fought back well, and the game eventually ended in a draw.
4) Brian Lara (West Indies) – 34 years 444 days
Score – 400* || Opposition – England || Year – 2004 || Venue – Antigua
When he was 25 years old, Brian Lara struck a triple-hundred against England in 1994. He scored 375 runs, and that was the highest individual score until Matthew Hayden surpassed it almost a decade later.
However, within just a year of his record being broken, Lara scored yet another three hundred. This time, though, he became the first person to also get to 400. No player has been able to break this record till now. The West Indian legend was 34 years when he had reached the feat. However, this particular game ended in a draw.
3) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 36 years 100 days
Score – 319 || Opposition – Bangladesh || Year – 2014 || Venue – Chittagong
Sri Lankan run-machine Kumar Sangakkara stands at No.3 in this list of oldest players to score a triple century in Test cricket. Just a year before he hung up his boots, the former skipper was in sublime form. In fact, in 2014, he scored a total of 1438 runs, out of which included a triple-century. He played his last Test game in 2015.
In the away Test against Bangladesh, Sanga scored a triple-century in the first innings. When he came back to bat in the second innings, the wicket-keeper batsman scored another century. However, since Bangla also gave a tough fightback, the match ended in a draw.
2) Graham Gooch (England) – 37 years 3 days
Score – 333 || Opposition – India || Year – 1990 || Venue – London (Lord’s)
The second-highest run-getter in Tests for England so far, Graham Gooch happens to be one of the very few batsmen who scored more than 100 FC centuries. However, his memorable inning is the triple-century he scored against India in 1990.
He scored this just a few years before his eventual retirement. The English opener also got a hundred in the second innings of this game. With more than 400 runs in the entire encounter, no player has scored more runs in a single game than Gooch at the iconic stadium of Lord’s. England defeated India convincingly in this game.
1) Andrew Sandham (England) – 39 years 271 days
Score – 325 || Opposition – West Indies || Year – 1930 || Venue – Jamaica
A right-handed batsman who scored over 40000 FC runs, Andrew Sandham was the first-ever triple centurion in the history of Test match cricket. He achieved this against West Indies when he was 39 years old. Hence, he tops this list of oldest players to score a triple century in Test cricket.
It was a four-game series, and Santham had started well with a century in the first encounter. However, in the next four innings, he could accumulate a total of just 14 runs. In the final game, though, he scored a three hundred and entered the history books. The player represented England for a total of 14 Tests.
