What makes a batsman’s century more special? A double century maybe.
Scoring a double ton has always been an achievement that’s rare in Cricket, even though it’s in the longest format of the game. You will get it when you look at the country-wise distribution of batters scoring 200s.
The Ashes is always one step ahead when you look at the quality of opposition it involves, let alone the rivalry it induces. In total, 40 double centuries have come in the Ashes series. However, there are only 5 batsmen who managed to repeat the remarkable feat.
Here is a list of batsmen who scored more than one double century in the Ashes tournament.
#1 Don Bran – 8
No words can explain what Don Bran has achieved in his career that spanned 52 games. His insane Test records tell a tale of a master who has mastered every single record that revolves around Test batting statistics.
Bran scored three double centuries in the 1930 Ashes in 3 months – for which he ranks t second in the batter’s list with the most runs scored by any batsman in a single Ashes series.
List of 200s by Bran in the Ashes
#2 Wally Hammond – 4
Walter Reginald Hammond is the first batsman to score two Ashes double centuries. Interestingly 3 of his 4 double tons came in the away venues in Australia. His first and the last Ashes double-century knocks are separated by 10 years – the longest among everyone on this list.
The former English batsman, who could excel at any game he played, is also the third-best English batsman in of Ashes run-scoring.
Hammond, a valuable medium-fast bowler, added 83 valuable wickets to his Test career.
List of 200s by Hammond in the Ashes
| No. | Runs | Strike Rate | Innings | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 251 | 41.48 | 2 | Sydney | 14 Dec 1928 |
| 2 | 200 | 42.37 | 2 | Melbourne | 29 Dec 1928 |
| 3 | 231* | 39.89 | 1 | Sydney | 18 Dec 1936 |
| 4 | 240 | 60.91 | 1 | Lord’s | 24 Jun 1938 |
#3 Steve Smith – 3
All three Steve Smith double century specials have come in the Ashes – that’s how good he has been in the tournament.
Smith had a dream run for five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018 when he averaged four 70+ average calendar years. The 1-year ban after the infamous sandpaper gate followed by the global COVID situation worldwide has kept him shut for a couple of years. But he is back now with high octane, and his average in 2021 is running at the good end of the 50s. Look at his year-by-year progression in Test cricket.
List of 200s by Smith in the Ashes
| No. | Runs | Strike Rate | Innings | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 215 | 62.13 | 1 | Lord’s | 16 Jul 2015 |
| 2 | 239 | 59.89 | 2 | Perth | 14 Dec 2017 |
| 3 | 211 | 66.14 | 1 | Manchester | 4 Sep 2019 |
#4 Alastair Cook – 2
The 10 players to play more than 150 Test matches. He is also the only English batsman to make this list so far.
Both his Ashes double-century have come in Australia – Brisbane and Melbourne. And, 7 years separate these superlative knocks.
List of 200s by Cook in the Ashes
| No. | Runs | Strike Rate | Innings | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 235* | 54.90 | 3 | Brisbane | 25 Nov 2010 |
| 2 | 244* | 59.65 | 2 | Melbourne | 26 Dec 2017 |
