Let’s face it—Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 in Test cricket has an almost mythical quality. It has been one of those records that has stared back for 20 years-plus, challenging generation after generation of batters to come and get it. Countless doomsday preppers from the heights of Milburn and Greg Chappell to the horizon of Suryakumar Yadav all have flirted with triple hundreds, but no one has compromised the boundaries set by the great Lara.
But cricket is different now, faster, flatter pitches, no more fear. The problem isn’t if someone will break it… It’s who will!?
Yashasvi Jaiswal
When Brian Lara himself says you have the potential to break his record, you pay attention. Yashasvi Jaiswal may be young, but he has a maturity to his game that feels old. The left-handed batsman’s desire to make big scores has already resulted in two double tons, including an unblemished 214 off only 236 balls.
What Jaiswal shows that is particularly appealing is his balance. He knows when to attack, but also knows how to fight. He’s already posted a first class of 265 – at a strike rate over 80 – so if India is on a flat track (and has time left in the game), don’t be shocked if Jaiswal bats well into Day 3, or even Day 4.
Harry Brook
Harry Brook doesn’t build innings—he detonates them. The epitome of England’s unflinching Test method, Brook could leap from 50 to 150 before you blink. Take the 317 he ripped against Pakistan in 2024. That wasn’t a statement; it was a warning to the record books everywhere.
Brook’s greatest advantage is starting his innings, with the old ball, against tired bowlers, being given license to attack. With a first-class average in the 60s and a strike rate that mocks convention, Brook could potentially slog himself into the record books—if it is meant to be.
Joe Root
Joe Root boasts six double centuries but is still chasing that elusive triple hundred. However, he does have the best opportunity to chase 400. His raw power, unlike other players, may not be at the top of the list, but he has the skill, endurance, and shot selection to cope with the long format.
He does it without any fanfare, and that will do him some good. He manipulates spin beautifully and bats with surgical precision against pace to wear teams down. If England ever finds itself in a position to bat until someone dies, Root could quietly tick off a lot of runs and credit his contribution without anyone noticing
Shubman Gill
At his best, Shubman Gill looks like he could bat for eternity. With silky footwork, icy composure, and the ability to shift gears effortlessly, he’s a nightmare for bowlers. His 430-run haul across two Test innings felt less like batting and more like domination.
What is encouraging about Gill is that while he has big scores in all formats, he has a double century in ODIs and also a T20I hundred. He is a very good stylist, but also a run machine. If you see Gill in a match without a time limit, on a flat pitch, and he only has to look after his wicket, he could easily move to fifth gear and keep going!
Tristan Stubbs
Tristan Stubbs might surprise a few, but he’s more than just a white-ball hitter. In Feb 2024, he walked in at 20/2 and carved out an unbeaten 302—pure grit and serious red-ball chops. Still settling into Test cricket, Stubbs brings modern aggression with a calm head. If trusted at No. 3 or 4, he might just script something historic.
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