The record for the most first-class double hundreds in FC cricket goes to Sir Don Bradman. First Class cricket is the oldest form of this sport and it has witnessed some iconic players over the decades. Played with red ball over multiple days, FC cricket is where the heart and soul of the game lay in and every cricketer aspires to represent their country at the highest level.
Cheteshwar Pujara recently became the fourth-highest double centurion in FC, when he made a a double ton in the Ranji Trophy. He currently has 17 scores of 200 or more, an India record.
Before we move forward to the important things, remember that FC cricket includes all types of competitive red-ball cricket, be it the domestic tournament, ‘A’ tours or Test cricket. So here is a list of the players with the most first-class double hundreds.
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Players with most first-class double hundreds
Don Bradman – 37
The late great Sir Donald Bradman is considered the greatest-ever batter to grace the 22 yards. It is no surprise he occupies the numero uno spot on this list of most first-class double hundreds. Bradman, who is famous for the number 99.94 – his average in Test cricket, was a prolific run-scorer in his time.
The Australian legend had his career halted by the world war but he was just as good on returning from that gap. Playing for Australia from 1928 to 1948, Bradman hit 12 double centuries in Test cricket. He registered as many as 25 double tons in non-international red-ball cricket, taking the tally to a mind-boggling 37 double centuries.
Much like his Test average, this record seems pretty unbreakable given how the game has evolved with the rise of limited-overs cricket. There is only one active cricketer in this list and he is not even halfway there to Bradman’s count.
Wally Hammond – 36
Wally Hammond was one of the most gifted athletes and is amongst the greatest cricketers to have ever picked up the willow. He played for Gloucestershire and England, with an international career spanning from 1927 to 1947. A career that went almost parallel to that of Bradman, the English legend has ridiculous numbers in FC cricket.
In his First Class career, Hammond registered a total of 36 double centuries, seven of which came in Test cricket. His competitive career began in 1920 and lasted for 31 years. In that span, he amassed 50551 runs in FC cricket from 634 games at an average of 56.10.
Patsy Hendren – 22
Patsy Hendren is believed to be the first cricketer who wore a homemade protective head cap for batting. He is third on the list of the most first-class double hundreds, having crossed the landmark on 22 occasions. Hendren, who played for Middlesex and England, was one of the most prolific batters the game has seen.
Hendren played from 1907 to 1937, amassing 57611 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 50.80 with 170 centuries. Only one player in the history of FC cricket has more hundreds than Hendren and only two batters have made more runs in their career.
Cheteshwar Pujara – 17
India's Cheteshwar Pujara climbed to the joint fourth spot on the list of most first-class double hundreds and joined an elite company. On 7th January 2023, Pujara scored an unbeaten 243 against Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy to register his 17th double hundred.
Pujara, who has played 103 Test matches for India, has hit three double centuries at the highest level. Eight of his double hundreds have come while playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Pujara also moved to the fourth spot on the list of most FC runs by Indian batters, having scored 19812 runs at an average of 52.
Herbert Sutcliffe – 17
Herbert Sutcliffe, who had to wait till the age of 24 to play first-class cricket due to the First World War, is regarded as one of the greatest batters in the game. He is joint-fourth on the most double centuries list, having reached the milestone 17 times.
In a career that spanned from 1919 to 1945, Sutcliffe played 754 matches in FC cricket for Yorkshire and England, amassing 50670 runs with 151 centuries. Sutcliffe scored 4555 runs for England at an outstanding average of 60.73 with 16 centuries.
Mark Ramprakash – 17
Mark Ramprakash is one of the biggest examples of unfulfilled potential. He had an incredible red-ball career at the domestic level but could not translate that into Test cricket for England. He played 52 Tests from 1991 to 2002 and scored 2350 runs at an average of just 27.32.
Ramprakash, who played for Middlesex and Surrey, amassed 35659 runs in his FC career at an average of 53.14. He hit 17 double centuries in a career spanning from 1987 to 2012.
C. B. Fry – 16
Charles Burgess Fry had a stellar first-class career but could not emulate that for England at the international level. He played 394 matches in FC cricket, scoring 30886 runs at an average of 50.22 with 94 centuries to his credit.
Fry couldn't hit a double ton for England but in county cricket, he registered 16 double centuries for Hampshire and Sussex.
Jack Hobbs – 16
John Berry Hobbs, known as Sir Jack Hobbs, was the most prolific batter the game has ever seen. Hobbs is a constant feature at the opening of any discussion about the all-time Test XI. He has the joint fifth most double centuries in FC cricket, having crossed the mark in 16 innings.
Hobbs played 61 Tests for England from 1908 to 1930, scoring 5410 runs at an average of 56.94. Overall, Hobbs holds the record for the most runs in First Class cricket with 61760 runs and also has the most centuries (199) in FC cricket.
Graeme Hick – 16
Much like Ramprakash with whom he shared the international debut, Graeme Hick could also never live up to his potential on the big stage. He made his Test debut for England in 1991 but could never cement his place. He still played 65 Test matches, scoring 3383 runs at a mediocre average of 31.32.
Hick, however, remained a giant in county cricket playing for Worcestershire. In his FC career, Hick amassed 41112 runs at an average of 52.23 with 136 centuries. Of those, 16 were double centuries.
