Do you know: Which active cricketers have scored most double hundreds in Tests?

By notching up a double-century against Sri Lanka in the second Test, New Zealand’s ace batter Kane Williamson surpassed England’s Joe Root in the list of most Test double-tons among active cricketers. Williamson, with six double hundreds, now stands second in the list, just after India’s Virat Kohli who has achieved the feat seven times.

While Joe Root has scored five double-centuries, Australia’s Steven Smith has reached the 200-run mark four times in Tests. The fifth spot is shared by Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim and India’s mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara, who have three double tons to their name.

Scoring 215(296) against Sri Lanka, Williamson, on Saturday, March 18, also became the first cricketer from his country to score 8000 Test runs. He also became the joint third-fastest non-asian batter to reach 8000 Test runs, thereby equaling Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden.

With that, Williamson also completed 17000 international runs, becoming the joint fifth-fastest player to accomplish the feat. While Williamson and Ricky Ponting took 402 innings to reach the milestone, Sachin Tendulkar took 394 innings and Brian Lara took 389 innings. Hashim Amla completed 17000 international runs during his 381st innings, while Kohli remains as the fastest, having achieved the feat in 363 innings.

In the ongoing second Tets against Sri Lanka, Williamson handed his side the much needed momentum after the hosts lost opening batter Tom Latham for a low score. After the 87-run stand between openers Latham and Devon Conway came to an end, Williamson and Conway shared a 31-run stand before the latter walked back.

It was then the magnificent 363-run partnership between Williamson and Henry Nicholls that helped New Zealand get an upper hand over the Islanders. While Williamson notched up a double century, Nicholls completed his century, helping New Zealand cross the 500-run mark on the scoreboard. Having won the first Test in a dramatic manner, the hosts will be aiming to wint he series 2-0 and complete a whitewash.