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Gayle breaks new ground

May 03, 2005 11:08 IST

Chris Gayle rewrote the record books on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test in St. John's, Antigua on Tuesday. The lanky West Indian opener became the first batsman in Test cricket history to score a triple century against South Africa.

Chris GayleBefore Gayle, Australia's Don Bradman, who scored an unbeaten 299 at Adelaide in 1931-32, held the record of playing the highest individual innings against South Africa.

A total of 20 triple centuries (including a quadruple) have now been scored in Test cricket by 18 batsmen. The country-wise break-up: 6 for Australia, 5 each for England and West Indies, 2 for Pakistan and one each for Sri Lanka and India. Don Bradman and Brian Lara are the only batsmen to have done so twice.

Seven triple tons have been scored in the Caribbeans followed by England (6), Pakistan (3), Australia (2), New Zealand (1) and Sri Lanka (1).

St. John's is now at level with Leeds as the ground where most triple centuries (3) have been scored. Bridgetown and Kingston have seen two triple centuries apiece.

Highest individual scores in Test cricket:

Score Batsman For Vs Venue Season
400* BC Lara WI Eng St.John's 2003-04
380 ML Hayden Aus Zim Perth 2003-04
375 BC Lara WI Eng St.John's 1993-94
365* GStA Sobers WI Pak Kingston 1957-58
364 L Hutton Eng Aus The Oval 1938
340 ST Jayasuriya SL Ind Colombo RPS 1997-98
337 Hanif Mohammad Pak WI Bridgetown 1957-58
336* WR Hammond Eng NZ Auckland 1932-33
334* MA Taylor Aus Pak Peshawar 1998-99
334 DG Bradman Aus Eng Leeds 1930
333 GA Gooch Eng Ind Lord's 1990
329 Inzamam-ul-Haq Pak NZ Lahore 2001-02
325 A Sandham Eng WI Kingston 1929-30
317 CH Gayle WI SA St.John's 2004-05
311 RB Simpson Aus Eng Manchester 1964
310* JH Edrich Eng NZ Leeds 1965
309 V Sehwag Ind Pak Multan 2003-04
307 RM Cowper Aus Eng Melbourne 1965-66
304 DG Bradman Aus Eng Leeds 1934
302 LG Rowe WI Eng Bridgetown 1973-74

Highest individual scores against each Test nation:

Against Score Batsman For Venue Season
Australia 364 L Hutton Eng The Oval 1938
England 400* BC Lara WI St.John's 2003-04
South Africa 317 CH Gayle WI St.John's 2004-05
West Indies 337 Hanif Mohammad Pak Bridgetown 1957-58
New Zealand 336* WR Hammond Eng Auckland 1932-33
India 340 ST Jayasuriya SL Colombo RPS 1997-98
Pakistan 365* GStA Sobers WI Kingston 1957-58
Sri Lanka 299 MD Crowe NZ Wellington 1990-91
Zimbabwe 380 ML Hayden Aus Perth 2003-04
Bangladesh 261* RR Sarwan WI Kingston 2004

Rajneesh Gupta