Scoring a quadruple centuries in cricket is a rare feat achieved by only eight players in history. West Indies’ Brian Lara remains the only player to accomplish this in international cricket, with his unbeaten 400 against England in 2004. The first-ever quadruple century was scored by England’s Archie MacLaren in 1895, amassing 424 runs for Lancashire against Somerset. Lara also holds the highest first-class score of 501*, achieved for Warwickshire in 1994—a record that remains unbroken.
Other notable players in the exclusive group of quadruple century achievers include Bill Ponsford, who scored two quadruple centuries—429 in 1923 and 437 in 1927—and Don Bradman, whose 452* in 1930 remains the fastest quadruple century. Hanif Mohammad fell just short with 499 runs in 1959, being run out before reaching 500. The remaining players in this rare list are Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, Aftab Baloch, and Graeme Hick.
Scoring a quadruple century (400 runs) in cricket is a monumental achievement that very few batsmen in the history of the game have managed to accomplish. It is a testament to both extraordinary skill and endurance, as batsmen need to bat for several hours, sometimes even days, to reach such a remarkable total. This feat is extremely rare in both Test and First-Class cricket, and only a select few have managed to set this record in the game’s history.
The first player to score a quadruple century in cricket was Brian Lara of the West Indies. Lara’s iconic innings of 400 not out came during a Test match against England in 2004 at the Antigua Recreation Ground, a record that remains unmatched in Test cricket. Lara’s innings helped solidify his reputation as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He faced 582 balls and hit 43 boundaries, including four sixes, to reach the historic mark. His innings broke the previous record of 380 runs set by Lara himself in 1994, also against England.
The second and most recent instance of a quadruple century in first-class cricket was achieved by Chris Gayle of the West Indies. While playing for University of Cambridge in 2016 against Suffolk, Gayle scored an unbeaten 400 runs, making him the second player to score a quadruple century in first-class cricket. Gayle’s aggressive batting style is well-known, and he showcased his typical flair by hitting 434 balls with 37 fours and 14 sixes. This monumental knock cemented his place as one of the most destructive batsmen in cricket history.
In addition to Lara and Gayle, there are other instances of quadruple centuries in first-class cricket, such as Nathan Astle’s 400 runs for New Zealand in 2002 against England in Christchurch, and Aamir Sohail’s 402 runs for Pakistan.
Though quadruple centuries are incredibly rare, the record stands as a pinnacle of achievement in cricket, representing the perseverance, concentration, and technical brilliance required to score such a monumental total. While the game of cricket continues to evolve with shorter formats gaining more popularity, the record of 400 runs in a single innings remains a symbol of batsmanship excellence in the longer form of the game.
Quadruple centuries in cricket
| Player | Runs | Team | Opposition | Ground | Year |
| Brian Lara | 501* | Warwickshire | Durham | Birmingham | 1994 |
| Hanif Mohammad | 499 | Karachi | Bahawalpur | Karachi | 1959 |
| Don Bradman | 452* | New South Wales | Queensland | Sydney | 1930 |
| Bhausaheb Nimbalkar | 443* | Maharashtra | Kathiawar | Pune | 1948 |
| Bill Ponsford | 437 | Victoria | Queensland | Melbourne | 1927 |
| Bill Ponsford | 429 | Victoria | Tasmania | Melbourne | 1923 |
| Aftab Baloch | 428 | Sind | Baluchistan | Karachi | 1974 |
| Archie MacLaren | 424 | Lancashire | Somerset | Taunton | 1895 |
| Graeme Hick | 405* | WORCS | Somerset | Taunton | 1988 |
| Brian Lara | 400* | West Indies | England | St John’s | 2004 |