On 16 March 2002, during the final day of the first Test match between New Zealand and England at Auckland, Nathan Astle smashed the fastest double century in Test cricket off just 153 balls in 217 minutes. Curiously enough, his second hundred (from 101 to 200) came off just 39 balls in 69 minutes, which is also a world record.

Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist who completed his double century off 212 balls against South Africa at Johannesburg on 23 February 2002 held the previous record. His double century in terms of minutes (217 minutes), however, ranks second to Don Bradman's 214 minutes double ton against England at Leeds in 1930, when he had scored 334 off 446 balls in 378 minutes with the help of 46 fours.

Astle, by hitting 11 sixes also set a new record of most sixes in an innings for New Zealand. Chris Cairns had previously hit nine sixes during his 120-run knock against Zimbabwe at the same ground in 1995-96. The all-time record is still held by Pakistan's Wasim Akram who cracked 12 sixes during his unbeaten 257-run knock against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 1996.

For interest here are more details.

Fastest double centuries in Test cricket

- In terms of balls
Balls	Batsmen	Scores	For	Vs	Venue	Season
153	N J Astle	222 in 168 balls, 231 min, 28 x 4's, 11 x 6's	NZ	Eng	Christchurch	2001-02
212	A C Gilchrist	204* in 213 balls, 293 min, 19 x 4's, 8 x 6's	Aus	SA	Johannesburg	2001-02
220	I T Botham	208 in 226 balls, 276 min, 19 x 4's, 4 x 6's	Eng	Ind	Oval	1982
231	G P Thorpe	200* in 231 balls, 335 min, 28 x 4's, 4 x 6's	Eng	NZ	Christchurch	2001-02
232	C G Greenidge	214* in 241 balls, 300 min, 29 x 4's	WI	Eng	Lord's	1984
240	C H Lloyd	242* in 429 min, 19 x 4's, 4 x 6's	WI	Ind	Mumbai	1974-75
241	Zaheer Abbas	215 in 254 balls, 334 min, 23 x 4's, 2 x 6's	Pak	Ind	Lahore	1982-83
242	D G Bradman	244 in 277 balls, 316 min, 32 x 4's, 1 x 6	Aus	Eng	Oval	1934
242	I V A Richards	208 in 245 balls, 376 min, 22 x 4's, 3 x 6's	WI	Aus	Melbourne	1984-85
- In terms of minutes
Min	Batsmen	Scores	For	Vs	Venue	Season
214	D G Bradman	334 in 446 balls, 378 min 46 x 4's	Aus	Eng	Leeds	1930
217	N J Astle	222 in 168 balls, 231 min, 28 x 4's, 11 x 6's	NZ	Eng	Christchurch	2001-02
223	S J McCabe	232 in 276 balls, 235 min 34 x 4's, 1 x 6	Aus	Eng	Nottingham	1938
226	V T Trumper	214* in 242 min, 26 x 4's	Aus	SA	Adelaide	1910-11
234	D G Bradman	254 in 376 balls, 339 min 25 x 4's	Aus	Eng	Lord's	1930
240	W R Hammond	336* in 398 balls, 325 min 34 x 4's & 10 x 6's	Eng	NZ	Auckland	1932-33
241	S E Gregory	201 in 243 min, 28 x 4's	Aus	Eng	Sydney	1894-95
245	D C S Compton	278 in 290 min, 34 x 4's, 1 x 6	Eng	Pak	Nottingham	1954
251	D G Bradman	223 in 297 min, 24 x 4's	Aus	WI	Brisbane	1930-31
253	D G Bradman	226 in 277 min, 22 x 4's	Aus	SA	Brisbane	1931-32

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