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David Warner's career-best triple century was as dominant as it was chanceless, and it proved a very deflating experience for Pakistan's bowlers at a sunny Adelaide Oval.
Warner notched only the 31st triple century in Test history, joining the ranks of some of the sport's greatest batsmen. He surpassed the greatest in Sir Donald Bradman by taking a single to reach 335 not out, triggering Australia's declaration.
It also continues the trend of more frequent 300s in this current era than we have seen before. There have been seven trebles this decade, to go with nine scored in the noughties. Only four were notched in the 1990s, one in the 1970s, three in the '60s and just two in the 1950s.
The only other comparative glut of triple centuries came way back in the 1930s — Bradman's era — when five were scored, two coming from Bradman's bat.
Despite their increasing frequency, the milestone remains a remarkable achievement in the game, with a handful proving to be especially memorable.
Taylor opts against overtaking Bradman
It was the triple century that gave an Australian captain a sleepless night.
Mark Taylor had put Pakistan, including the lightning-quick Shoaib Akhtar, to the sword in Peshawar as Australia posted 4-599 declared in its first innings.
But the declaration did not come until the morning after Taylor had reached the important figures of 334 not out — equalling the great Bradman's personal best Test score.
It meant Taylor had to mull a declaration overnight, alone in his room, pondering the implications of batting on.
Come out on day three and bat on, and he could be seen as pursuing his own personal glory over the team's. Declare, and he would give his team a fighting chance of a win, while leaving his name indelibly linked to Bradman's with the matching score.
Ultimately, after confiding with his inner circle, who all insisted he make the decision alone, he opted to declare.
Pakistan responded with a 500-plus score themselves, rendering the match a draw.
Lara reclaims his record after Hayden's demolition job
For many years, Brian Lara was king of the castle when it came to highest individual scores. In 1994 he notched what was then the highest Test score of 375, against England, surpassing Sir Garfield Sobers's 36-year-old record of 365 not out.
But along came a certain Matthew Hayden, who took an axe to an outclassed Zimbabwe attack at the WACA, brutalising 380 runs with 38 fours and 11 sixes to snatch the record away from the Trinidadian.
Lara was not to be outdone. Just six months later, Hayden's record fell. Lara took on England once again, calmly racking up the runs at St John's to score the first quadruple century in Test cricket.
Now, readers would be right to argue that a quad century is no triple century. To label it as such would diminish the rarefied air a quadruple deserves. For the purposes of this article, Lara's achievement may have an asterisk placed alongside it.
Regardless, Lara had reclaimed his throne as the man to set individual records. His 375 overtaken, his 400 put him back on top as cricket's record breaker, sitting perfectly alongside his unfathomable 501 scored in county cricket.
Jayasuriya's treble sees Sri Lanka break all records
The probability of a draw increases with an individual's triple ton, and the no-result came as no surprise when Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya flayed India's attack to all corners in 1997.
Jayasuriya paired with Roshan Mahanama for an incredible 576-run partnership, as Sri Lanka posted the highest team score in Test cricket history — 6-952 declared.
Jayasuriya scored more than a third of those runs with his 340, on what proved to be a batsman's paradise.
Sri Lanka's obnoxious total came in response to India's 8-537 declared, in a match where both teams provided three centurions each to the scoreboard.
The teams only had time for one innings each as the match carded up all sorts of records en route to a bore draw.
Sehwag goes ballistic against South Africa
In another triple century match that ended in a draw, Virender Sehwag at least did his part in trying to ensure a result with history's quickest Test treble.
The entertaining Indian opener scored at more than a run a ball to dismantle the Proteas bowling attack, scoring 319 off 304 balls in a knock that included 42 fours and five sixes.
It was the Indian's second career Test treble after his 309 against Pakistan in 2004.
Sandham gets the ball rolling
The first Test triple century was scored by an Englishman by the name of Andy Sandham in 1930.
Sandham, was almost always overshadowed by his illustrious opening partner in Jack Hobbs, but on one occasion, Sandham stood tall to grab the spotlight and achieve something Hobbs never could.
In a 10-hour, 640-ball innings, Sandham, aged 40, broke the mould for Test cricket by notching the first treble in the format, helping England register 849 all out against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.
Sandham was eventually bowled for 325, having borrowed his captain's bat and teammate's shoes (which slipped off more than once when he was rushing for singles), before also scoring a half-century in the second innings.
His match aggregate of 375 runs stood as the record until Greg Chappell eclipsed it 44 years later.
After nine days of cricket in a timeless match, the teams agreed to a draw.
Clarke ignites in the pink Test
With his team under pressure at the SCG, Michael Clarke played the innings of a lifetime to save his teetering team and set the foundation for a crushing win over India in 2012.
Coming in to bat at 3-37, Clarke smashed 39 fours and a six in a stupendous captain's knock to score a phenomenal 329 not out in front of an exhilarated Sydney crowd clad in pink.
He and Ricky Ponting shared in a 288-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before Michael Hussey joined the carnage to score 150 in a 334-run pairing — that Bradman-esque number rearing its head once again.
Topics: cricket, sport, australia
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