Nathan Astle scored 200 runs in 153 balls. (Picture: Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)

Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist made the document for the quickest double century in Take a look at cricket in opposition to South Africa in 2002. He scored 200 runs in simply 212 balls. He wouldn’t have thought that this document could be damaged in a couple of weeks. Nevertheless it occurred and this feat was achieved by New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Astle. Earlier than the beginning of T20, he performed probably the most explosive innings within the historical past of Take a look at cricket. Astle made the document for the quickest double century in Checks by scoring 200 runs in simply 153 balls, which nobody has been capable of break until date. India’s stormy opener Virender Sehwag got here near this document 4 occasions however couldn’t break it. Astle’s birthday is on 15 September and on this special day we’re going to inform you about his story.

The document has not been damaged for 22 years, Sehwag failed 4 occasions

Nathan Astle performed a historic innings of 222 runs in 168 balls in opposition to England in 2002. At the moment, the period of T20 had not even began and there was no development of enjoying quick. Then Astle scored a double century in simply 153 balls. It has been 22 years since Astle’s historic innings performed in Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s the period of T20 and batsmen have additionally began enjoying quick, regardless of this no cricketer has been capable of break this document. Nonetheless, throughout this time many batsmen reached Astle’s document.

From India’s facet, Virender Sehwag got here near attaining Astle’s document 4 occasions. Sehwag tried probably the most in 2004, when he scored a double century in opposition to Pakistan in 222 balls. After this, he tried once more in 2006 and 2008. Throughout this, he took 182 balls as soon as and 194 balls the second time to attain a double century.

Sehwag’s final try was in 2009 when he got here very shut, however missed it by simply 15 balls. This time he confronted 168 balls to attain a double century in opposition to Sri Lanka. Aside from Sehwag, England’s Ben Stokes got here closest to Astle’s document. He scored a double century in 163 balls within the Cape City Take a look at in opposition to South Africa in 2016.

That is how the workforce’s honor was saved

In 2002, Nathan Astle couldn’t save New Zealand from defeat at house along with his innings, however he positively saved its honour. Truly, New Zealand received the toss on this match and invited England to bat. England scored 228 runs within the first innings, in response to which New Zealand’s workforce collapsed at 147 runs. England scored 468 runs within the second innings.

Half of New Zealand’s workforce, which got here out to chase 550 runs, had gone to the pavilion at 242 runs and a giant defeat was knocking on the door. Then Astle performed a historic innings of 222 runs in 168 balls, on the idea of which New Zealand managed to attain 451 runs. Nonetheless, in the long run it needed to face defeat by 98 runs.

Stunned by retiring earlier than the World Cup

Nathan Astle is counted among the many greatest all-rounders. In his Take a look at profession, he scored 4702 runs in 81 matches at a mean of 37 and likewise managed to take 51 wickets. In his ODI profession, he performed 223 matches by which he scored 7090 runs at a mean of 35 and likewise managed to take 99 wickets. There was additionally a consideration of constructing him the captain of the workforce however as a result of his dangerous habits, he was not given this duty. In 2007, only a few weeks earlier than the World Cup, Astle stunned everybody by all of the sudden retiring. He had stated that he didn’t have any motivation left to play cricket.