Milestones hold a unique significance, and a double-hundred in Test cricket stands out distinctly. Regrettably, Test matches haven’t garnered much attention in women’s cricket, yet the achievement of a double-century remains unparalleled in its prestige. To date, only ten players have reached this illustrious milestone, a testament to their exceptional skill and determination.
Kiran Baluch – 242(488)
Pakistani opener, Kiran Baluch holds the record for the highest score in a women’s Test with her 242 that’d come against West Indies on the 16th of March, 2004. The one-off Test was played in Karachi and had Pakistan put into bat by West Indies. The determined Pakistani opening pair of Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah went on to put a 241-run opening stand that saw curtains with the wicket of Sajjida on 98(286) minutes before the close of play on the opening day. Pakistan closed out the day on 242/1 with Kiran unbeaten on 138 and she continued from where she left off on the opening day and got to her double-century on day 2 and her brilliant show of 242 came to an end as Cummings struck. West Indies suffered a batting collapse in the 1st innings and were bowled out for 147, but did exceedingly well in the 2nd innings and got to 440 posting Pakistan with a target of 162, but it being a 4-day Test, Pakistan in the 2nd innings were 58/2 and the Test match resulted in a draw.
Mithali Raj – 214(407)
The 2nd Test of India’s tour of England in 2002 saw a 19-year-old, Mithali Raj batting at no.4 get to her double-century and celebrate as the first Indian woman batter to have done so. England posted 329 in their 1st innings and India had Mithali walk in to bat in the 1st innings with the side in a bit of early trouble after being 2 down for 45. Mithali Raj stitched a decent 55-run partnership with skipper, Anjum Chopra who got to her half-century. It was then with Hemlata Kala that Mithali Raj put on a 144-run stand for the fourth wicket. After a couple of early wickets, Mithali Raj then put on a 157-run stand with Jhulan Goswami which saw curtains with her wicket on 214 bowled by debutant, Isha Guha. Jhulan was next to depart on 62(196) and India went on to post 467 in their 1st innings but again it being a 4-day Test match, it resulted in a draw.
Ellyse Perry – 213*(374)
Ellyse Perry at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), under lights, in a pink-ball Test against England during the 2017 one-off Ashes Test overtook fellow Australians with a score of 213*. England in their 1st innings posted 280 on board and had Australia 2 down for 45. Ellyse Perry walked in and soon had Alex Blackwell depart on 6 with 61 on board. Elyse Villani too walked back early on 14 with Australia 4 down for 95. Skipper, Rachael Haynes walked to the middle and alongside, Ellyse Perry batted for a crucial partnership worth 73 runs that came to an end with Haynes departing on 33. Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath got to scores of 45 and 47 respectively stitching valuable partnerships alongside Ellyse Perry. Jess Jonassen hung in for 24 and it finally was Megan Schutt, the no.11 who remained unbeaten on 1*(6) for Ellyse Perry on the other end to first get to her double-century and then edge past 209* to have the highest score by an Australian in Women’s Test cricket. Australia declared on 448/9 and England in reply got to 206/2 and the Test match resulted in a draw.
Karen Rolton – 209*(313)
On July 7, 2001, Karen Rolton got to digits where no one else did. The women’s Ashes series had Australia tour England where the visitors won the first Test at Shenley by an innings and 140 runs. It then was time for the 2nd Test at Leeds and Australia had England down for 144 runs. Australia in their 1st inning lost skipper, Belinda Clark on 6 and Karen Rolton found herself in the middle earlier than she would have liked. Karen alongside, Lisa Keightley put on a 77-run stand before the latter was run out on 40(90). Michelle Goszko then departed for duck and Louise Broadfoot joined Karen Bolton and the two stitched a 253-run stand before the former departed on 71(207). Julia Price made her way to the middle and remained unbeaten on 9(28) as Karen Rolton edged past her 200* and finished unbeaten on 209 to lead the chart with the highest score in Test cricket. Australia in the 2nd inning had a target of 7 and with ease got to the required for the loss of a wicket to win the Test by 9 wickets and the series, 2-0.
Kirsty Flavell – 204
Women’s Test match no. 103 saw New Zealander, Kirsty Flavell with a score of 204 be the first women cricketer to get to a Test double-ton. New Zealand’s tour of England in 1996, the 1st Test of the series at Scarborough had England get to a 1st innings total of 414 to which New Zealand replied with a 517/8 but the Test resulted in a draw but importantly for Kirsty Flavell and all of New Zealand a record was scripted. New Zealand had a good opening stand of 91 runs that saw curtains with the wickets of Debbie Hockley on 63. Kirsty walked in and alongside opener, Shelley Fruin stitched a 146-run stand before the latter departed on 80. Maia Lewis departed early for 1 and Kirsty then alongside Clare Nicholson and skipper, Sarah Illingworth stitched partnerships worth 89 and 81 runs respectively. Both Catherine Campbell and Julie Harris departed early with scores of 8 and 0 and thankfully Kelly Brown hung in the middle for long enough that see Kirsty get to her 200* before being out on 204 and Kelly Brown too got to her 50* with Justine Fryer hanging in with a 7*.
Michelle Goszko – 204(345)
Australia’s tour of England, 2001 Ashes series in the first Test at Shenley, Australia bowled England out cheaply for 103 and in reply posted a total of 344. On debut, batting at no.4, Michelle Goszko found herself in the middle early as Belinda Clark on 9 walked back and Karen Rolton on a duck that had 2 down for 21. Michelle Goszko alongside Lisa Keightley put on a 107-run stand before the latter departed on 36(119). Goszko got to a 50-run stand with Louise Broadfoot before she departed on 24 and then Australia lost a couple more wickets in quick succession as Julia Price was handed a golden duck and Olivia Magno departed for 4. Terry McGregor hung in alongside, Goszko and the two shared a 66-run stand. Valuable partnerships alongside, Cathryn Fitzpatrick and Avril Fahey had Goszko get to her double-ton. There for sure aren’t many debuts that have got this rich a history.
Joanne Broadbent – 200(476)
Australia’s tour of England, 1998. In the 1st Test at Guildford, England got to a total of 414 that Australia in reply topped and declared on 569/6. Australia’s batting innings saw Belinda Clark depart early on 11 and Joanne Broadbent found herself in the middle with 28 on board. She alongside, Lisa Keightley put on a 108-run stand that saw curtains with the wicket of Lisa on 56. Karen Rolton departed early on 4 and outwalked Mel Jones on debut and batting alongside, Joanne put on a 220-run stand that’d come to an end with the wicket of Mel Jones on 131(240). Bronwyn Calver’s stay saw her score 28 runs and Julia Price then joined Joanne in the middle. The two put on an 87-run stand that saw Joanne Broadbent get to her double-century and departed on the same score to Karen Smithies’ bowling. Australia declared on 569/6 with Julia and Olivia remaining unbeaten on scores of 80 and 37. England in the 2nd innings were 160/1 and the Test match ended in a draw.
Tammy Beaumont – 208(331)
The 32-year-old wicket-keeper and veteran opening batter from England created history when she became the first player from England to score a double century in the red-ball format. There couldn’t have been a better time to do it than in a Women’s Ashes. The visitors Australia posted a massive total on the board (473) in the first innings after skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bat first in a one-off Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England gave a solid response led by the opening batter Tammy Beaumont’s masterclass innings (208 runs off 331 balls), followed by twin half-centuries from skipper Heather Knight (57 off 91 balls) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (78 off 111 balls). Tammy Beaumont became the first English player to score a double century in the red-ball format. England posted 463 runs on the board taking the 1st innings deficit down to 10 runs. However, England lost the match by a massive 89-run margin.
Annabel Sutherland – 210(256)
Australia are hosting South Africa for an all-format series. Australia clinched both the white-ball series. The historic one-off Test match at the W.A.C.A., Perth. It is their maiden face-off against each other in the red-ball format. Australian skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, South Africa failed to counter the seaming conditions on offer as they were bundled out for their lowest score (76) in the red-ball format in the 32nd over of the innings.
The home side were rocked early as Masabata Klaas accounted for Australia’s top order Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, and Tahlia McGrath to push the home side on the back foot. However, Beth Mooney and skipper Alyssa Healy led Australia’s recovery by taking them into a first-innings lead before Beth Mooney’s departure. Annabel Sutherland joined skipper Alyssa Healy and completed her well-deserved half-century before the end of play on Day 1. Annabel Sutherland continued with her positive approach alongside her overnight partner Ashleigh Gardner.
She scored her maiden double century, becoming the 9th player overall and the 5th Australian to score a double century (210 off 256 balls) in a Women’s Test match. She claimed the record for the fastest double century in a Women’s Test match as she managed to get it in just 248 balls, surpassing the previous best (Karen Rolton 306 balls Vs England 2001) by 58 balls. At the age of 22 years and 126 days, she also became the 2nd youngest player after Mithali Raj (19 years and 254 days) to score a double century in a Women’s Test match.
Shafali Verma – 205 (197)
In the South Africa tour of India 2024, a multi-format series, India convincingly swept the One-Day Internationals 3-0 before moving to a one-off Test at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first after winning the toss, and the Indian opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave the side a great start with their 292-run partnership. The Indian innings concluded at 603/6 declared, registering the highest ever team total made in the history of Women’s Test cricket.
Among the Indian batters, one distinct inning that stands out is by 20-year-old Shafali Verma. Verma, renowned for her aggressive batting style, registered her maiden Test hundred and converted it to become the fastest to reach a double century. After reaching her century in 113 balls, she accelerated, scoring the fastest-ever Test 150 in 158 balls and then the fastest 200 overall by facing 194 balls. She smashed a total of 23 boundaries and 8 maximums, maintaining a strike rate of 104.06.
Verma’s innings marked several milestones: She became the second youngest player to score a Test double-hundred and the second Indian to achieve this feat after Mithali Raj. Verma is just behind Raj in the highest score by an Indian in Test cricket. She also set the record for the most sixes (8) in a Test innings and became the first woman cricketer to score over 200 runs at more than a run-a-ball rate in a Test innings. Additionally, she became the youngest Indian to reach 500 Test runs.
