West Indies legend Brian Lara remains the only cricketer to score a quadruple centuries in international cricket. However, the first-ever quadruple century in cricket was achieved by former England captain Archie MacLaren in 1895. Representing Lancashire, MacLaren scored a remarkable 424 runs against Somerset at the County Ground in Taunton.
Scoring a quadruple century in cricket is an extraordinary feat, and only a select few batsmen have achieved this remarkable milestone in the history of the game. The first player to achieve a quadruple century in a first-class match was Brian Lara of the West Indies. Lara set the record in 1994 during a match for Warwickshire against Durham, where he scored an astonishing 400 not out, a record that still stands in first-class cricket. His innings remains one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the sport, showcasing impeccable technique and concentration. Lara’s quadruple century not only etched his name into cricketing lore but also earned him the reputation of one of the game’s finest batsmen.
The second player to score a quadruple century in a first-class match was Matthew Hayden of Australia. In 2003, playing for Queensland against Zimbabwe, Hayden scored 380 runs in a Test match, which, while not quite a quadruple century, was the second-highest individual score in Test cricket at the time. While this wasn’t exactly a quadruple century, it is worth noting the remarkable achievement of such a colossal innings.
In the context of international cricket, quadruple centuries have remained elusive, but the sheer rarity of this achievement only adds to the mystique and greatness of those who have achieved such incredible feats. The fact that Lara’s 400* is still unmatched in international cricket highlights the difficulty and rarity of scoring such an immense number of runs in a match. Though many batters have come close, Lara’s quadruple century remains a monumental record in the cricketing world.
In total, only eight cricketers have ever scored quadruple centuries, highlighting the rarity of this achievement. Among them, Brian Lara holds the distinction of recording the highest score in first-class cricket. In 1994, playing for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston, Lara shattered records with an unbeaten 501, a milestone that remains unbeaten to this day.
Scoring a quadruple century in cricket is an extraordinary achievement, and only Brian Lara has managed to reach this remarkable milestone in a first-class match. In 1994, Lara scored an incredible 400 not out for Warwickshire against Durham, setting a world record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket. His feat remains unmatched in international cricket. Another notable large score is Matthew Hayden’s 380 in a Test match against Zimbabwe in 2003, though not a quadruple century, it remains one of the highest scores in Test cricket. Lara’s 400* remains the pinnacle of individual batting performances.
Brian Lara remains the only cricketer to score a quadruple century in international cricket, with his iconic 400* against England in 2004. He also holds the highest first-class score of 501*, achieved in 1994.
Bill Ponsford is the only player with two quadruple centuries, scoring 429 (1923) and 437 (1927) for Victoria. Don Bradman’s unbeaten 452 in 1930 remains the fastest quadruple century. Hanif Mohammad scored 499 in 1959 but was run out just short of 500.
Others in this elite group include Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, Aftab Baloch, and Graeme Hick.
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 |