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On February 23, 2002, Adam Gilchrist set the record for the fastest Test double hundred, scoring 204 off 213 balls against South Africa. Australia declared at 652/7 and won easily.
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist achieved multiple feats during his illustrious career spanning over a decade. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
On This Day In 2002: Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, with his batting and wicketkeeping prowess, achieved multiple feats during his illustrious career spanning over a decade. One of them came in an away Test against South Africa 23 years ago on this day (February 23).
Up against a formidable bowling attack featuring the likes of Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini and Neil McKenzie, Gilchrist went all guns blazing over the first two days at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. He secured the record for the fastest Test double hundred of that time, scoring 204 off 213 balls.
Australia didn’t have the best start, with Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting returning to the pavilion within the first 25 overs. When Gilchrist arrived at the crease, Australia were at 293/5. He added 25 to the board till the stumps of Day 1. The southpaw appeared at his devastating best the next morning.
Gilchrist smashed 20 runs in an over off McKenzie. He took 89 balls to reach his half-century and completed his ton on the 121st delivery. When he was batting at 169, Gilchrist targeted a hoarding where an advertisement promised a bar of gold to the player who would hit it. The Australian missed it by a whisker.
Gilchrist was well supported by Damien Martyn who registered 133. The duo stitched a 317-run partnership for the sixth wicket. After Martyn departed, Gilchrist scored the 19th boundary of his innings off Jacques Kallis to bring up his double hundred. He reached the landmark in just 212 deliveries.
Gilchrist was unbeaten when Australia declared their innings at 652 runs, losing seven wickets. South Africa perhaps didn’t expect a batting collapse on the same wicket. But, they were bundled out for only 159, with Ashwell Prince topping the scoring charts with 49 runs.
The hosts were asked to follow on and their batters failed miserably once again. Herschelle Gibbs scored 47 while most of his teammates were unable to breach the 20-run mark. South Africa managed 133 runs in the second innings as Australia notched an easy victory in Johannesburg.
The record by Gilchrist, however, lasted for a few days. Only three weeks later, New Zealand’s Nathan Astle struck 222 from 168 balls against England in Christchurch.
