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Usman Khawaja Joins Pakistan Legend In A Rare List After Majestic Double Ton

Aakash Saini

Usman Khawaja celebrating his double century [Source: @cricketcomau/x]Usman Khawaja celebrating his double century [Source: @cricketcomau/x]

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Australian opener Usman Khawaja notched up his redemption hundred through the course of his batting masterclass against Sri Lanka on Day 1 of the series-opening Galle Test, and converted it into a majestic double-century the following day. Listing the maiden double ton of his Test career, Khawaja’s magnum opus also helped him join a gallery of some great names for a rare batting record.

The seasoned left-handed opening batter was eventually dismissed by a weary Prabath Jayasuriya just after the drinks break at the halfway stage of Day 2 at 232 from 352 balls. The 38-year-old glittered his monumental knock with 16 regal boundaries and a six as he flayed Sri Lanka’s spin and pace attack with raging pulls, cuts and drives.

Usman Khawaja scales THIS record with majestic 232

Aged 38 years and 43 days, Usman Khawaja became one of the oldest cricketers in Test history, and the second oldest Australian after Sir Donald Bradman to compose a double century. There have been 13 instances of players plundering Test double tons at ages older than Khawaja, including twice each by the late Australian cricketer and India's Vinoo Mankad, once from Pakistan great Younis Khan and another one from West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Here is a look at the oldest Test cricketers in history to score double centuries in the format:

Age
Batter (Team)
Season
42 years 6 daysEric Rowan (South Africa)1951
41 years 195 daysJack Hobbs (England)1924
40 years 361 daysPatsy Hendren (England)1929-30
40 years 314 daysGraham Gooch (England)1994
40 years 207 daysDudley Nourse (South Africa)1951
39 years 353 daysGordon Greenidge (West Indies)1991
39 years 271 daysAndy Sandham (England)1929-30
39 years 149 daysDon Bradman (Australia)1947-48
38 years 269 daysVinoo Mankad (India)1955-56
38 years 256 daysYounis Khan (Pakistan)2016
38 years 234 daysVinoo Mankad (India)1955-56
38 years 108 daysDon Bradman (Australia)1946-47
38 years 89 daysShivnarine Chanderpaul West Indies2012-13
38 years 43 daysUsman Khawaja (Australia)2025

It is worth noting that Usman Khawaja managed to accumulate just 184 runs across 10 innings during Australia’s preceding five-match Test series against Team India at home between November and January. Scoring his runs at a substandard average of 20.44, he struggled to come to terms with India’s rampaging speedster Jasprit Bumrah.

Redeeming himself with an epic 232, Usman Khawaja’s marathon knock fueled Australia’s 600-plus total against Sri Lanka in the first innings at the Galle International Stadium.