As the league stage of the ICC World Test Championship 2021–2023 draws to a close, we take a look at the highest scores made by each batter.
During the 2021-23 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, there have been eight double hundreds and a few close calls. India and Australia will hope to add to that total when they play in the final at the Oval on June 7.
Kane Williamson of New Zealand made two double hundreds, just like he did in the WTC 2019-21 cycle. He was the only batter to do this more than once.
But a teammate from New Zealand has the highest score of the cycle when we look at the batters who have the top 10 individual totals with only the WTC final to go.
Tom Latham 252 against Bangladesh, 2022, Christchurch
In the Test against Bangladesh, which was Ross Taylor’s last international game in whites, Latham scored a great 252.
In the first innings, New Zealand scored more than four runs per over and made a huge 521. Latham led the way with his double tonne, which had 34 fours and two sixes.
Kane Williamson 215 v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2023
Williamson finished this WTC cycle with his second double century, matching what he did in the first WTC cycle. This means that the right-hander has reached the mark more times in WTC matches than any other batter.
The former captain scored 215 against Sri Lanka in the last match of the league stage of this cycle. Williamson and Henry Nicholls, who also scored 200, batted together for 363 runs. The two of them helped New Zealand get a big first innings score of 580/4, which set them up to win by an innings and 58 runs.
Dinesh Chandimal 206* vs. Australia, Galle, 2022
Chandimal scored 206* to help Sri Lanka win the second game of the series by an innings and 39 runs. This made him the first Sri Lankan to score a double century against Australia in a Test.
In the first innings, the right-hander hit 15 fours and 5 sixes out of the 326 balls he faced. This helped Sri Lanka score 554 runs, which was their highest Test score against Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne 204 v West Indies, Perth, 2022
Labuschagne and his teammate Steve Smith gave the West Indies a lot of trouble. In the first innings of the first Test of the series, they put up a 251-run stand that made the West Indies very upset.
Australia scored a huge total of 598/4, but Labuschagne won the Player of the Match award because he scored another century (104*) in the second innings to back up his efforts in the first innings.
Steve Smith gets 200* against the West Indies in 2022 in Perth.
Smith said that the first Test against the West Indies was the best game he had played in six years, and he went on to make a perfect double century from 311 balls.
With this amazing hit, the former captain of Australia tied Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 29 centuries.
Kane Williamson 200* v Pakistan, Karachi, 2022
After Pakistan scored 438 runs, Williamson led New Zealand’s comeback. He hit a patient and unbeaten double hundred off 395 balls to help his team take a first innings lead.
This was Williamson’s fifth double-hundred score, but it was his first in the WTC cycle. He still had one more to go against Sri Lanka.
Henry Nicholls 200* v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2023
In the last league game of this WTC cycle, Nicholls and teammate Williamson batted together for 363 runs, which was Nicholls’ highest Test score.
The left-handed player had been having a hard time with red-ball cricket, but he turned things around with a 240-ball 200* that included 15 fours and four sixes.
David Warner vs. South Africa, 200, in 2022, in Melbourne.
Warner got a double hundred in his 100th Test, making him part of a small group of players who have done that.
The left-handed player had been out of form, but he promised before the Test that he would get back to his old self. He did so with a typical aggressive innings and a 255-ball double century, which ended his slump.
Warner had to be helped off the pitch because he cramped up from all the excitement he felt when he reached the mark.
Bangladesh vs. Angelo Mathews 199, Chattogram, 2022
Mathews missed a remarkable double hundred by one run, despite the heat and some tight bowling from Bangladesh.
The right-hander put together important partnerships with a number of batters during the knock. He was a big reason why Sri Lanka was able to score 397 runs in the first innings. But the experienced player will be sorry he played a planned slog on 199 instead of a simple catch to square leg.
Babar Azam 196 v Australia, Karachi, 2022
Babar stood strong against the powerful Australian attack when his team was in trouble.
After giving up 408 runs in the first innings, Pakistan had to make up 506 runs in the last innings. When Babar walked out to bat, they were 2 and 2. The captain stood up to everything that was thrown at him to score 196 runs off 425 balls and get Pakistan close to the goal.
Even though Pakistan didn’t end up getting a big win, Babar’s work made sure the team got a draw, which seemed unlikely at one point. Babar also won the ICC Player of the Month Award for March 2022 for his brave game.
