WTC 2023: Top 10 highest scores in the current World Test Championship: As the league stage of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 draws to a close, we take a look at the highest scores scored by individual batsmen in this cycle of the tournament.
The 2021-23 cycle in the ICC World Test Championship has seen batsmen plunder runs with eight double hundreds and a few near misses, as India and Australia will hope to add to that tally when they meet in the final at The Oval from June 7 .
Like the WTC 2019-21 cycle, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson scored two double centuries and was the only batsman to reach the milestone multiple times this time.
But it is the New Zealand teammate who tops the list of highest scores in the cycle, as we look at the batsmen who made the top 10 individual totals, with only the WTC final yet to come.
Table of Contents
Tom Latham
252 v Bangladesh, Christchurch, 2022
Stand-in captain Latham compiled an impressive 252 against Bangladesh in the Test, which was Ross Taylor’s last international in white.
New Zealand scored more than four runs per over in the first innings, while posting a mammoth total of 521, with Latham hitting 34 fours and two sixes in his double century.
Kane Williamson
215 v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2023
Williamson ended this WTC cycle with a second double century, matching his efforts from the first cycle and ensuring that the right-handed batsman has reached the mark more times than any other batsman in WTC matches.
The former captain’s 215 against Sri Lanka came in the final match of the league stage of this cycle, as Williamson hit another double century in a 363-run stand with Henry Nicholls. The pair helped New Zealand post an impressive 580/4 in the first innings and won by an innings and 58 runs.
Dinesh Chandimal
206* v Australia, Galle, 2022
Chandimal became the first Sri Lankan to score a double century against Australia in Tests as he made 206* not out in the second match of the series to record an innings and 39 runs win.
The right-handed batsman hit 15 fours and five sixes in the first innings, facing 326 balls, as Sri Lanka posted 554 for their highest Test score against Australia.
Marnus labuschagne
204 v West Indies, Perth, 2022
Labuschagne and teammate Steve Smith tormented the West Indies as the duo scored double hundreds, coming together for a 251-run stand in the first innings of the first Test of the series.
Australia posted a mammoth 598/4, but Labuschagne won the Player of the Match award by backing up his first innings efforts with another ton (104) in the second innings. steve smith 200 v West Indies, Perth, 2022
Before the first Test against the West Indies, Smith claimed to be in his finest shape in six years. He also hit a faultless double century off 311 balls. The former Australia captain equaled Sir Donald Bradman’s tally of 29 centuries with this brilliant knock.
Kane Williamson
200* v Pakistan, Karachi, 2022
Williamson led New Zealand’s fightback as Pakistan posted 438, hitting a patient knock and scoring an unbeaten double century off 395 balls to help his team take a first-innings lead.
Although he still had another century against Sri Lanka to play, this was Williamson’s first double century in the WTC cycle and fifth overall.
Henry Nicholls
200* v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2023
Nicholls compiled his highest Test score in his 363-run partnership with teammate Williamson in the final league game of this WTC cycle batting.
The left-handed batsman, who was going through a rough patch in red-ball cricket, turned it around brilliantly with a 200* off 240 balls with 15 fours and four sixes.
David warner
200 v South Africa, Melbourne, 2022
Warner scored a double century in his 100th Test, joining an elite group of players to do so. The left-handed batsman was struggling for form but vowed to return to his previous self ahead of the Tests, finally turning around his slump with an aggressive innings and a 255-ball double ton. An exhausted Warner had to be helped from the field after cramping during his stirring ceremony on reaching the mark.
Angelo mathews
199 v Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2022
Mathews fell one short of a remarkable double century, which was aided by the heat and some tight bowling from Bangladesh.
The right-handed batsman forged crucial partnerships with several batsmen during the knock and was vital for Sri Lanka to reach a total of 397 in the first innings.
Babar Azam
196 v Australia, Karachi, 2022
In a knock of centuries, Babar stood firm with his team against a straitened Australian attack. After conceding a massive first innings deficit of 408, Pakistan were chasing 506 in the final innings and were 21/2 when Babar came out to bat. The skipper braved everything to score 196 off 425 balls and take Pakistan close to the target.
While Pakistan did not secure a notable victory, Babar’s effort ensured that the team came away with a draw which at one stage looked impossible. Babar was also given the ICC Player of the Month award for March 2022 thanks to his resolute performance.
