5 Batsmen To Not Score A Double Century After Playing 100 Tests

Achieving a double century is a milestone in the game of cricket, especially for a batsman in Test matches. When a player has the consistency and skill to play over 100 Test matches, it is almost expected that they will reach this prestigious mark at least once. In fact, it is logical to expect that a batsman who has scored numerous centuries—more than 15 in most cases—should manage to score a double century at some point in his career. However, there are several illustrious batsmen who, despite incredible careers and many centuries, could never achieve the much-desired 200 runs in Test cricket.

5 batsmen who, despite playing over 100 Tests, never made a double century

1. Alec Stewart – England

 

Alec Stewart is one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers and holds the record for the most Test runs by a player who never scored a double century. Over his career, Stewart amassed 8,463 runs from 133 Tests, averaging around 40. He scored 15 centuries, yet his highest score in an innings was 190 runs, a figure that, though remarkable, was still shy of the 200-run milestone.

Stewart, who played his last Test in 2003, was a consistent player and an anchor for the innings, but he never converted one of his many starts into a double century. His career spanned from 1989 to 2003, and despite his vast experience and consistent run-making, the elusive double century remained just out of reach.

2. Mark Waugh – Australia

 

Mark Waugh, often regarded as one of Australia’s most stylish and technically sound batsmen, enjoyed a stellar career in both One Day Internationals and Test matches. He scored 8,029 runs in 128 Test matches at an average of 42. His tally included 20 centuries, but his highest score in a single innings was 153 runs.

Waugh was the epitome of elegant stroke play and composure at the crease. In Australian cricket in the 1990s, he was one of the key players. Though his record is highly impressive, including several match-winning performances, he never managed to score a double century, which leaves a curious gap in an otherwise exceptional career.

3. Desmond Haynes – West Indies

 

The West Indies dominated world cricket in the 1980s, and they had a golden era that included the iconic Desmond Haynes. Haynes was one of the most prolific West Indian batsmen of his generation and, at the time of his retirement, also held the record for most centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In Tests, Haynes scored 7,487 runs in 116 matches at an average of 42. He also scored 18 centuries, but his highest score in a single innings was 184 runs.

One of the most solid technical batsmen ever seen, Haynes could bat for hours on end and was considered one of the finest openers in Test cricket. He remained one of the most consistent and reliable batsmen of his time but still did not get his double century despite coming very close several times in his life. That is the reason why so many have questioned his presence in the list as he certainly belongs there.

4. Dilip Vengsarkar – India

 

Dilip Vengsarkar was the face of Indian cricket in the 1980s and was a key player in the team’s success during that period. He was the first non-English batsman to score three centuries at Lord’s, a record that has become part of cricket history. Although he scored 17 Test centuries, his highest score was only 166 runs, which was not enough to cross the 200-run mark.

Vengsarkar’s Test career spanned from 1976 to 1992. He was known for his temperament, ability to play on difficult pitches and consistency. He scored runs in heaps for India but never could reach the 200-run mark, something some may have expected from a batsman of his quality.

5. Colin Cowdrey – England

 

Colin Cowdrey has a special place in the annals of Test cricket, having been the first player to complete 100 Test matches. He played from 1954 to 1975, and during those 114 matches, he scored 7,624 runs with an average of 44. He also got 22 centuries, which places him among the most consistent and respected batsmen of his era. Cowdrey never even came close to scoring a double-century throughout his stellar career and only managed a personal best of 182.

An elegant and composed player, Cowdrey’s average of 44 still remains the highest for all the batsmen in this list. Even though he showed consistency and didn’t retire from the game, scoring a double-century still eluded him. His career serves as a reminder that cricket, although a game of skill and technique, also involves a bit of luck and circumstance in reaching milestones like a double century.

Why Did These Batsmen Fall Short?

Each of these players had careers of incredible longevity and consistency with which they scored centuries, but the double century always eluded them. In cricket, especially in the Test format, several factors can contribute to this. For example, batsmen often get out after long partnerships, or they may get dismissed in conditions that are less conducive to huge scores. Sometimes, a lack of opportunity due to early wickets or team dynamics can prevent a batsman from playing a long enough innings to reach the 200-run mark.

Another likely reason for them not being able to convert centuries into double centuries was playing at the international level, where the opponents and conditions are constantly changing.

While these batsmen may not have reached the 200-run milestone in their Test careers, their records and contributions to the game are unquestionable. They remain legends in their own right, proving that consistency and skill can sometimes be just as impressive as reaching the rarefied air of a double century.

ALSO READ: BGT 2024-25: Top 5 Memorable Moments