Chris Gayle rewrote the record books on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test in St. John's, Antigua on Tuesday. The lanky West Indian opener became the first batsman in Test cricket history to score a triple century against South Africa.
Before Gayle, Australia's Don Bradman, who scored an unbeaten 299 at Adelaide in 1931-32, held the record of playing the highest individual innings against South Africa.
A total of 20 triple centuries (including a quadruple) have now been scored in Test cricket by 18 batsmen. The country-wise break-up: 6 for Australia, 5 each for England and West Indies, 2 for Pakistan and one each for Sri Lanka and India. Don Bradman and Brian Lara are the only batsmen to have done so twice.
Seven triple tons have been scored in the Caribbeans followed by England (6), Pakistan (3), Australia (2), New Zealand (1) and Sri Lanka (1).
St. John's is now at level with Leeds as the ground where most triple centuries (3) have been scored. Bridgetown and Kingston have seen two triple centuries apiece.
Highest individual scores in Test cricket:
| Score | Batsman | For | Vs | Venue | Season |
| 400* | BC Lara | WI | Eng | St.John's | 2003-04 |
| 380 | ML Hayden | Aus | Zim | Perth | 2003-04 |
| 375 | BC Lara | WI | Eng | St.John's | 1993-94 |
| 365* | GStA Sobers | WI | Pak | Kingston | 1957-58 |
| 364 | L Hutton | Eng | Aus | The Oval | 1938 |
| 340 | ST Jayasuriya | SL | Ind | Colombo RPS | 1997-98 |
| 337 | Hanif Mohammad | Pak | WI | Bridgetown | 1957-58 |
| 336* | WR Hammond | Eng | NZ | Auckland | 1932-33 |
| 334* | MA Taylor | Aus | Pak | Peshawar | 1998-99 |
| 334 | DG Bradman | Aus | Eng | Leeds | 1930 |
| 333 | GA Gooch | Eng | Ind | Lord's | 1990 |
| 329 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pak | NZ | Lahore | 2001-02 |
| 325 | A Sandham | Eng | WI | Kingston | 1929-30 |
| 317 | CH Gayle | WI | SA | St.John's | 2004-05 |
| 311 | RB Simpson | Aus | Eng | Manchester | 1964 |
| 310* | JH Edrich | Eng | NZ | Leeds | 1965 |
| 309 | V Sehwag | Ind | Pak | Multan | 2003-04 |
| 307 | RM Cowper | Aus | Eng | Melbourne | 1965-66 |
| 304 | DG Bradman | Aus | Eng | Leeds | 1934 |
| 302 | LG Rowe | WI | Eng | Bridgetown | 1973-74 |
Highest individual scores against each Test nation:
| Against | Score | Batsman | For | Venue | Season |
| Australia | 364 | L Hutton | Eng | The Oval | 1938 |
| England | 400* | BC Lara | WI | St.John's | 2003-04 |
| South Africa | 317 | CH Gayle | WI | St.John's | 2004-05 |
| West Indies | 337 | Hanif Mohammad | Pak | Bridgetown | 1957-58 |
| New Zealand | 336* | WR Hammond | Eng | Auckland | 1932-33 |
| India | 340 | ST Jayasuriya | SL | Colombo RPS | 1997-98 |
| Pakistan | 365* | GStA Sobers | WI | Kingston | 1957-58 |
| Sri Lanka | 299 | MD Crowe | NZ | Wellington | 1990-91 |
| Zimbabwe | 380 | ML Hayden | Aus | Perth | 2003-04 |
| Bangladesh | 261* | RR Sarwan | WI | Kingston | 2004 |
More from rediff