Youngest Woman Cricketer to Score Double Century in a Test Innings

Test matches are considered to be the pinnacle of cricket and doing well gives immense satisfaction to a cricketer but test matches in women’s cricket are not a regular affair, especially beyond the top two or three nations.

Test cricket is all about getting a second chance and making it big of your starts, which is why double centuries are a more common thing in test matches than in limited overs. Despite the limited opportunities, there have been some momentous occasions in women’s cricket, where the batters have the 200-run milestone. 

In the article, let’s find out the top 5 five batters in the history of women’s cricket who have scored a double century in the test format:

#1. Kirsty Flavell – 204 vs England

They say that the first one is special as it gives us a belief that something is possible and inspires others to achieve that too which is New Zealand’s Kirsty Flavell’s 204 against England in 1996 is ranked up at the top. 
In the first Test of New Zealand’s first 1996 tour to England, Kirsty Flavell scores 204 in response to England’s first innings total of 414 runs.  With the help of Kirsty’s double ton, New Zealand replied with a mammoth first-innings target of 517/8 and the test eventually ended in a draw. 
In her pursuit for a double ton, Kirsty stitched big partnerships with many Kiwi batters including opener Shelly Fruin, Clare Nicholson, Sarah Illingworth, and Kelly Brown.

#2. Mithali Raj- 214 vs England

In 2002, a young Mithali Raj announced herself on the world stage during India's tour of England. Facing a challenging total of 329 set by England, India found themselves struggling early at 45/2. But then, Raj stepped up in a big way.

She first built a solid partnership with captain Anjum Chopra, followed by a crucial 144-run stand with Hemlata Kala. But it was her partnership with Jhulan Goswami that truly stole the show. Together, they added a mammoth 157 runs, with Raj reaching a historic double century – the first by an Indian woman in Tests. Despite her dismissal and Jhulan's departure later, India put up a strong total of 467.

Unfortunately, the four-day Test ended in a draw, but Raj's knock remained etched in history, marking the arrival of a true legend in women's cricket.

3. Kiran Baluch – 242 vs West Indies

After Mithali Raj, another Asian batter stepped and overtook Mithali to register the highest individual score in women’s test cricket. Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch amassed 242 against West Indies women in the one-off test at the National Stadium in Karachi.

After putting into bat first on a placid Karachi wicket, Kiran started well with opening partner Sajjida Shah and put up a 241-run opening stand with her. After Shah departed, Kiran went on to score a double century and put up the highest individual test score in women’s cricket before departing at 242 runs. 

Pakistan went on to put on a mammoth total of 426 runs in the first innings. After getting out cheaply in the first innings West Indies made a comeback and scored 440 in the second innings which resulted in the match ending in a draw.

4. Ellyse Perry – 213 not out vs England

Ellyse Perry is one of the most celebrated crickets in contemporary women’s cricket. Known for her all-rounding abilities, Perry has time and again displayed that she is no less than a proper batter and her double-ton against England in a one-off day-night Ashes test speaks volumes of her batting prowess.

In reply to England’s 280 runs in the first innings, Australia was struggling at 95-4 but Ellyse Perry carried on her merry way and stitched crucial partnerships with Rachel Haynes, Alyssa Healy, and Tahlia Mcgrath to take Australia to a strong position.

Despite them getting put, Perry continued her merry ways and went on to score a double century with the support of bowlers Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt. Ellyse Perry went on to score 23 not out and Australia declared on 448 runs but the test eventually ended in a draw.

5. Tammy Beaumont – 208 vs Australia

England put up a valiant fight in the recent Women's Ashes Test, thanks to a historic double century from veteran opener Tammy Beaumont. The 32-year-old smashed 208 runs off 331 balls, becoming the first-ever English player to achieve the feat in red-ball cricket.

Her knock formed the backbone of England's response to Australia's mammoth first-innings total of 473. Beaumont received able support from skipper Heather Knight (57) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (78), but ultimately, England fell short by 89 runs. Despite the loss, the Test will be remembered for Beaumont's groundbreaking innings, a testament to her experience and skill.